The forest department has announced a ban on all entry into the Sundarbans for three consecutive months starting Monday. The restriction will remain in effect until 31 August.
During this time, fishermen, woodcutters (bawalis), honey collectors (moualis), and tourists will not be allowed inside the forest.
The move has been taken in order to protect biodiversity, wildlife, and fish resources during the breeding season in the Sundarbans, the forest department said.
It added that June to August is the breeding season for most fish, wildlife, and plants. Fish spawn in rivers and canals, wild animals reproduce, and seeds sprout into new saplings. Therefore, as in previous years, the three‑month ban has been imposed to preserve the natural environment.
No passes or permits will be issued during the ban. Anyone violating the restriction and entering the forest will face legal action, it stated.
Forest officials said that the movement of tourist and forest‑dependent boats disrupts the natural roaming and breeding of wildlife. If the forest is given an uninterrupted environment for three months, the numbers of fish, plants, and wildlife will increase, enriching the ecological balance of the Sundarbans.
However, thousands of families dependent on the Sundarbans — fishermen, bawalis, and moualis — are expected to face financial hardship due to the ban. Sources said the Forest Department and Fisheries Department are working on government assistance for forest‑dependent communities.
Meanwhile, boat owners and workers engaged in tourism will also remain jobless for three months, leading to financial difficulties.
Jamal Hossain, a crab fisherman from Burigoalini, said, “Stopping passes for three months to enter the Sundarbans will increase the suffering of fishermen like us.”
Fisherman Anisur said, “If we cannot go to the Sundarbans, coastal fishermen will face financial crises and will have to rely on NGO loans to survive.”
Ripon Gazi, a tourist trawler operator from Nildumur, said, “No tourists will enter the Sundarbans during this time. Our families will face extreme hardship.”
Burigoalini Forest Station Officer Fazlul Haque said the Sundarbans will reopen to everyone from 1 September. In the meantime, the Forest Department, Coast Guard, River Police, and Fisheries Department will jointly conduct monitoring activities to conserve biodiversity.
