Tourist deficit in Sundarbans during opposition blockade, strike

Bagerhat Correspondent :

Though the present time is the full season of tourism there is no tourist in Sundarbans (forest) for the last one and a half weeks following the blockade and Hartal programmes called by BNP and some other opposition political parties. During the period no tourist went to Sundarbans. It was claimed by the tour operators.
Nazmul Azam David, Secretary of Tour Operators’ Association of Sundarbans (TOAS) told, at present is the high time for the tourists to visit the Sundarbans. But in spite of that there is no tourist in Sundarbans (at present). Previously a good number tourist booked the tourist-ships and launches in order to travel Sundarbans. But for following the Hartal (striking) and blockading programmes of BNP, an opposition party of the country those tourists already cancelled their bookings.
In the state of running Hartal and blockade programme the tourists are refraining from visiting Sundarbans, the biggest mangrove forest in the world and consequently, those who (the owners and labourers) are involved in tourism industries are incurring a heavy financial losses, was told by the Secretary of TOAS.
Forester Azad Kabir, Officer-in-charge of Karamjal Tourist Spot, under Chandpai Forest Range in the Eastern Division of Sundarbans (in Bagerhat district) told, no visitors and tourist has been visiting this tourist spot for more than one week.
Forester Surajit Chowdhury, Officer-in-charge of Katka sanctuary forest and the biggest tourist spot in the total Sundarbans disclosed, previously every day on average at least 12/14 tourist ships or launches used to arrive here.
But no tourist ships or launches have been arriving here for more than one week.
But on October 25 some 14 and on October 28 12 tourist ships and launches arrived at Katka tourist spot. The Forest Officer assumed, perhaps, due to the ongoing Hartal and blockade programmes tourists and visitors lost their interest to visit Sundarbans.