Forest fire feared in Sundarbans
People engaged in illegal fishing near Dhansagar Station of Chandpai Range under the Eastern Sundarbans in the district's Sharankhola upazila frequently use fire for clearing the bushes and grasses to make their work easier, posing threat of major fire incidents anytime.
Last year, several fire incidents occurred in the forest near Dhanasagar Station.
Afterwards, fishing remained almost stopped in the area for one year but the illegal act started again a few days ago.
With the blessings of local influential people and some unscrupulous forest officials, the fishermen started netting local species of fish like koi, shol and magur in small canals and beels (open water bodies) of the area with banned current nets, locals said.
They catch fishes in different canals and beels including Pancha Koralia, Tulatala, Nangli, Murtir Khal, Maidar Khal, Neptikhali, Chota Tengra, Bara Tengra and Kalam-Tajir Beel of Sharankhola upazila for three months after the end of the monsoon, said many locals seeking anonymity.
Some fishermen of Ratiya-Rajapur, Pashchim Rajapur, Uttar Rajapur, Dakkhin Rajapur and Bandaghata of the upazila catch fish in the water bodies throughout the night and come out from the forest with the fishes before dawn.
They put the fish into small drums and go to Khulna through Pallimangol route by motorcycle.
Denying the allegations of illegal fishing, Humayan Kabir, station officer at Dhansagor, said stern action will be taken if anyone enters the forest areas and catches fish illegally.
Mahmudul Hasan, divisional forest officer of the Sundarbans Eastern Division, said, “Fire occurs in the area during the dry season. Legal action will be taken if anyone is found involved in fishing in any of the vulnerable areas or any person in the forest department acts as accomplice.”
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