Sundarbans opens for tourists

Sundarbans, the world heritage mangrove forest, was reopened for tourists on Wednesday after remaining closed for around five months for the pandemic.

The forest department warned the tourists of actions for violation of Covid-19 health guidelines during their trip.

Mihir Kumar Doe, the conservator of forests (Khulna circle), told The Business Post, “Tourists and visitors can enter the Sundarbans from today as per the instructions of the government. They have to abide by the government-issued health guidelines and maintain social distance and wear masks.”

He also said that they would allow maximum 75 tourists on a vessel but a group of maximum 25 tourists would be allowed to roam around the canals on boats.

For discouraging crowds, the forest department imposed the restriction, he said adding that violators of the restrictions would face action.

The forest department on April 3 had banned entering tourists in Sundarbans in the wake of the increase in the coronavirus infection rate.

The Cabinet Division also banned all kinds of activities in the forest in June, July and August for the conservation of biodiversity, wildlife and other fisheries resources.

On the first day of resumption of tourism in Sundarbans, many tourists were seen at different locations of the mangrove forest such as Katka, Karamjal, Kachikhali and Dublar Char, Harbaria and Hiran Point.

A visitor Azizur Rahman said that he had a plan to visit Sundarbans for a long but could not make it for the Covid situation. Now he is visiting Sundarban with his friends.