Sundarbans to reopen tomorrow for tourists

After nearly five months of closure due to the Covid restrictions, the Forest Department reopens the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest and a Unesco World Heritage Site, on Wednesday (September, 1)

The decision was taken at a meeting between leaders of the Forest Department and the Tour Operators Association of Sundarbans, Khulna, on Sunday.

M Nazmul Azam David, the general secretary of the Tour Operators Association, confirmed the information.

More than five lakhs of tourists throng the forest of Sundarbans round the year, which is detrimental for its habitat and natural ecosystem. If the authorities concerned do not put a bar on unplanned touristry, the forest would soon be destroyed, said Imam of Karamjal Mosque Hafez Maulana Abul Hasan.

However, the officials from the Forest Department said it would not be business as usual as the Forest Department has given some rules and conditions before reopening the forest for tourists.

During this five-month-long travel ban, the wildlife and other natural habitats thrived in this unique and delicately balanced ecosystem, said Hawladar Azad Kabir, in-Charge of Karamjal Tourism and Wildlife Breeding Center, Chandpai Range, East Sundarbans.

The area largely affected by countless tourists has been gaining its serene natural beauty in the last five months. Even at some frontier areas, the largest haunts of the endangered Royal Bengal tiger, which resides at the forest’s depths, has been seen in that time, said Md. Liton Munshi who collect food for wildlife food under the Karamjal Tourism Centre.

Forest Conservator, Khulna Region Mihir Kumar Do said the Sundarbans is set to reopen from September 1 following the ‘Sundarbans Travel’ policy approved by the cabinet.

“Each launch cannot carry more than 75 passengers. Social distance and hygiene must be maintained. An appropriate amount of sanitisers should be provided, “he said, referring to some of the new rules and conditions.

“The Forest Department will take legal action against any tour operator carrying more tourists or disturbing the environment by violating the approved policy,” he added.

The government restricted tourist gatherings in the Sundarbans on March 26 last year amid the first Covid restrictions in the country.

However, tourism did resume for a period from November 1, 2020 when the situation improved. However, the government had to reimpose the ban again on April 3 due to the deteriorating Covid situation, fuelled by the Delta variant that was first identified in India.