Desk Report
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has declared 73 percent forest area of the Sundarbans under Sharankhola Range as Wildlife Sanctuary without ensuring alternative livelihoods of the dwellers living near the world’s largest mangrove forest.
Due to the move about three months ago, at least 15,000 people, including fishermen, Bawals and Mowals have lost their livelihood and are passing their days in acute hardship. Earlier, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change imposed a ban on collection of all types of forest resources from 73 percent areas under Sharankhola Range, which is designated as ‘sanctuaries’.
Consequently, the Forest Department has demarcated the sanctuary area and blocked the entrance of fishermen, Bawals and Mowals.
“Fishing boats are lying idle beside the river since a major portion of the forest was declared as ‘wildlife sanctuary,’ said fisherman Rahman of Sharankhola area.
“I borrowed money from a local moneylender about four months ago. But, I don’t know how I am going to pay my debt as I cannot go for fishing in the forest area,” Rahman said.
“Only a small area (27 percent) under Sharankhola Range is out of the sanctuary status where as many as 200 to 250 fishermen can catch fish and crabs,” another fisherman Masum Farazi said, adding that as a result most of the fishermen near the Sundarbans have become unemployed.”
Besides, about 18 percent area under Chandpai Range has been declared as ‘wildlife sanctuary,’ he said.
“I went to Chattogram for an alternative job, but had to return home empty handed as could not earn much money to maintain my family,” Masum said.
“After being unemployed for long, some of our fellows left the area for alternative jobs but those who are still here are passing an inhuman life,” fisherman Keramat Farazi said.
Jalal Mollah, a local moneylender of Sharankhola Bazar, said, “I have given over Tk 20 lakh as loan to several fishermen but they are not returning the debt as they could not catch fish.”
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Sundarbans East Zone Mahmudul Hasan said, according to Bangladesh Wildlife Preservation Act, 1974, about 1.39 lakh and 699 hectares of Sundarbans East and West region were declared as sanctuaries.
“A scheme of Tk 406 crore for ‘Sundarbans Protection Project’ is going to be implemented soon to rehabilitate the fishermen,” he said.