After a three-month conservation closure, forest-dependent communities are returning to the Sundarbans, but fears of extortion and abduction persist.
The Sundarbans reopened to fishers, crab collectors and tourists on Tuesday after a three-month ban, bringing renewed economic activity to coastal communities but leaving forest-dependent workers fearful of armed bandits.
The ban, imposed to protect biodiversity, wildlife and fisheries during the breeding season, had kept all entry into the forest and collection of forest resources closed from June 1 to August 31.
Fishers and crab collectors began entering the forest with fuel, food and necessary equipment, hoping to resume their livelihoods. But some said they were entering under the shadow of bandit groups and alleged that they had to pay advance extortion money to gain access to fishing grounds.
“There is happiness in going to the Sundarbans after three long months. I will be able to catch fish and crabs and put food on the table for my family. I spent the three months in great hardship and have incurred a lot of debt. I will repay the debt with the income from the Sundarbans,” said Shahidul Islam, a fisherman from Moukhali village in Munshiganj.
Alamgir Hossain, from Datinakhali village in Burigoalini Union, said the prolonged closure had caused severe hardship.
“The Sundarbans have reopened today. I will enter the forest with a pass from the Forest Department. But I am afraid of the bandits. On one hand there is the burden of debt and on the other there is the fear of bandits as we enter the Sundarbans,” he said.
According to Bangladesh’s Forest Department, 155 passes had been issued to fishers by noon on Tuesday, along with one pass for a tourist boat.
The department said the number of passes was low because of adverse weather and would increase if conditions improved.
The opening has also brought activity back to the tourism sector, with tourist boats again allowed to enter the forest.
Monir Hossain, a tourist boat owner, said the prolonged closure had caused significant losses because tourists had been unable to visit the Sundarbans.
“Our boats remained idle during this time and we suffered a lot. Later, we borrowed money from various lenders at high interest to repair them. We will support our families and repay our debts with the money we earn by taking tourists to visit the Sundarbans,” he said.
Local shopkeeper Moksad Hossain said businesses had also suffered during the closure because most people in the area depend on the Sundarbans for their livelihoods.
“Business was slow because the Sundarbans were closed. Most people in the Sundarbans area earn their livelihoods from the forest. Since it was closed, they had no opportunity to earn. Fishers could not enter the forest and tourists could not visit, so we went through a difficult time. The Sundarbans have reopened today and I hope the coming days will be better,” he said.
Despite the adverse weather, tourist Rahim travelled from Dhaka with several friends to visit the forest.
“We have come with a few friends despite the adverse weather. We will obtain permission to enter the Sundarbans and visit various spots,” he said.
The reopening comes with continuing concerns over the safety of forest-dependent workers. Fishers said they feared both extortion by bandits and possible abductions, raising uncertainty over whether they would be able to return safely despite the need to earn a living.
The Forest Department said that 2,938 Boat Licence Certificates, or BLCs, are currently registered in the Satkhira Range, the section of the Sundarbans under the department’s management in Satkhira district. Of these, 1,148 are for fishing, 1,700 for crab collection, two for golpata, a local forest resource, 74 for tourist boats, one for saltwater and 12 for honey collection. Another 500 dinghy boats have received permission to collect fish and crabs.
During the three-month closure, the Forest Department also conducted operations to prevent illegal entry into the Sundarbans.
It filed 55 cases over alleged illegal entry and seized 55 boats. Forty-four people were named as accused and sent to court. During the same period, authorities seized 3,850 kilogrammes of snails, one pickup vehicle, 1,000 kilogrammes of honey, 230 kilogrammes of white fish, 135 kilogrammes of shrimp, four bottles of poison and 278 traps used for hunting deer.
Mohammad Mashiur Rahman, assistant range officer of the Satkhira Range, said everyone entering the Sundarbans must follow the prescribed rules and obtain the required permits.
He said those entering the forest must also follow instructions to protect the forest, wildlife and biodiversity, while law enforcement agencies were being enlisted to help ensure the safety of forest-dependent workers.
