Tourist vessels resume Sundarbans tours after fuel crisis
Tourist vessels have resumed their journeys to the Sundarbans after overcoming a fuel crisis caused by ongoing tensions between Iran and Israel in the Middle East.
The surge in fuel prices and supply disruptions had earlier created uncertainty around travel plans. However, through special arrangements by vessel owners, the situation has improved, allowing scheduled trips to go ahead.
During the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays, a total of 42 vessels have been booked for Sundarbans tours, with nearly 1,600 tourists expected to join.
Despite initial concerns over an acute fuel shortage, five vessels departed for the Sundarbans on March 22. The remaining 37 vessels are set to leave from Monday. Most will depart from Khulna, while three are scheduled to set off from Mongla.
The three-day tour packages will cover several popular destinations within the Sundarbans, including Karamjal, Herbaria, Kachikhali, Andharamanik, Tiger Hill, and Hiron Point.
Tour operators are optimistic about smooth operations during the holiday rush, with authorities closely monitoring vessel movements and safety measures.
Mazharul Islam Kochi, joint general secretary of the Tour Operators Association of Sundarbans (TOAS), said that the ongoing global situation has made fuel procurement extremely challenging.
He added that vessel owners are now purchasing diesel at an additional cost of Tk 4 per litre, significantly raising operational expenses.
Despite this, no extra cost has been passed on to tourists.
He further noted that under the current circumstances, vessel operators are unlikely to make any profit from these tours.
Tourist vessel operator Md Sohag Molla said that despite the severe fuel shortage, services were maintained by purchasing fuel at higher prices to ensure uninterrupted trips for tourists, including foreign visitors.
MV Utsav owner Wahidur Rahman said, “We managed to depart on schedule due to fuel availability.
However, if the crisis persists, the Sundarbans tourism sector could face serious risks in the future.”
Earlier, the Iran-Israel tensions had disrupted tourism activities linked to the Sundarbans, raising concerns over fuel supply and travel continuity during the Eid season.
In the Khulna region, around 70 tourist vessels operate trips to the Sundarbans. Of these, 42 had secured advance bookings for Eid. However, the fuel shortage created uncertainty among operators about whether trips could proceed as planned.
With fuel supply now stabilised and operations returning to normal, those concerns have largely subsided.
