Tourist entry to Sundarbans demanded in Mongla

Ahasan Habib Hasan, Mongla (Bagerhat)

Organized by the Sundarbans Tour Operator, Mongla Port Dennis Body Owners’ Cooperative Association, Mongla Port Mechanical Boatmen’s Sangha and Mongla Port Steel Launch Owners' Cooperative Association, a human chain was formed in the ferry ghat area of ​​Mongla on Sunday morning demanding permission to allow tourists to enter the Karamjal of the Sundarbans, which has been banned for three months by the Department of Forest (DoF).

Mongla Port Mechanical Boatmen’s Union leader Md Delwar Hossain chaired the programme. Among others, Mongla Nagarik Samaj President Md Noor Alam, tourism businessman Md Anisur Rahman, Sundarbans tour operators Tanjir Hossain Rubel, Enamul Huda Bulbul and Shams Rubel, tourism businessman and former councilor MA Quader, Sundarbans WAPDA Crossing Boatmen’s Association President Md Bellal Hossain, Md Sohag and Md Masud Rana of Boatmen’s Union, Mongla tour businessmen Md Mizanur Rahman, Md Emadul Hawlader, Baijid Bostami and Md Sohag also spoke in the programme.

Mongla Nagarik Samaj President Md Noor Alam Sheikh said, “Like every year, the DoF has imposed a ban on entry to the Sundarbans for three consecutive months from June 1 to August 31. This decision has been taken to ensure the free movement and reproduction of fish and wildlife in the rivers and canals of the Sundarbans. Fishing and tourists are banned in the Sundarbans during the ban period. We welcome this decision to protect the Sundarbans, and at the same time, we appeal to reconsider this decision. As a result of this decision, hundreds of boatmen and small traders who ran livelihood around the Karamjal tourism center have become unemployed. These unemployed people are getting involved in various criminal activities due to poverty. In addition, the ban on entry to Karamjal, the only tourist center in Mongla, has left tourists, children and travelers helpless.”

Since Karamjal is located at the entrance to the Sundarbans and is a day visitor center, there is no opportunity to stay here at night. Moreover, temporary passes are given for roaming here and it is not possible to stay after 4 pm in any way. It can be said that the arrival of tourists to Karamjal, which has been developed like a zoo within certain limits, is unlikely to disrupt the free movement and reproduction of wildlife in the Sundarbans. Therefore, the Karamjal tourism center of the Sundarbans, a day visitor center, should be kept outside the scope of the three-month ban.

Environmental activist Md Noor Alam Sheikh also said, “If the ban on tourists entering Karamjal remains in place, special allowances/assistance should be provided to small businessmen including boatmen associated with the tourism business to protect their livelihoods. Interest-free bank loans and special incentives should be provided to tourism businessmen to develop the Sundarbans-centric tourism industry.”

In his speech as the president, Md Delwar Hossain said, “The government should continuously organize training, seminars and workshops to develop an environmentally friendly sustainable tourism industry. I demand that Karamjal be kept out of the scope of the ban and initiatives should be taken to develop a sustainable tourism industry and protect the livelihoods of people associated with this industry.” After the human chain, a memorandum was submitted to the adviser of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change through the Upazila Nirbahi Officer.