Bawalis take preparation ahead of golpata harvesting

The Bawalis of the Sundarbans have started to take preparations for harvesting golpata (nypa palm) ahead of its season and they are repairing their boats and other necessary equipments’.  As the Forest Department has reduced the collection period to 28 days this year to lessen pressure on the world’s largest mangrove forest. According to forest officials, the harvesting season will begin on March 3 and continue until March 31. 

Unlike last year, when permits were issued in two phases totaling 56 days, this year permission has been granted in a single phase for 28 days only. Bawalis -- traditional forest-dependent collectors of golpata -- are now busy repairing their large cargo boats, locally known as “boronouka” or “petkatanouka,” in rivers adjacent to the Sundarbans, including the Kopotakkho, Shakbaria and Koyra Rivers. The pre-season repair period is locally called “Sharan.” Under the Forest Department’s directive, each registered boat with a capacity of 500 maunds (186 quintals) will be allowed to stay inside the forest for 28 days to collect golpata from designated spots.

Abdul Gani, a bawali from Koyra upazila, said repairing his 14-year-old boat costs over Tk 1 lakh each season, while constructing a new one would require nearly Tk 7 lakh. “These boats cannot be used for other purposes. After the season, they remain idle on riverbanks,” he added. Kamrul Islam, another bawali, said expenses have risen significantly this year.  “A single boat requires 10 to 11 drums of tar, costing around Tk 40,000, besides labour, wood, iron and government revenue fees. Overall, it costs more than Tk 3 lakh to bring one boatload of golpata,” he said.

President of the Sundarbans Bawali Federation Mir Kamruzzaman expressed concern over the reduced timeframe, saying it would create additional financial pressure on forest-dependent communities. Divisional Forest Officer of the Sundarbans West Division, A.Z.M. HasanurRahman, said the shortened duration was set to reduce pressure on the forest ecosystem. He warned that carrying excess golpata beyond the permitted limit would result in double fines. He also said joint patrols by the Navy, Coast Guard, RAB and Forest Department are ongoing to ensure security during the harvesting season.