Honey harvest drops in eastern Sundarbans

The Forest Department of Khulna missed its total revenue target as the honey and beeswax collection in the eastern Sundarbans fell sharply in 2024-25 to 2025-26.

According to the Forest Department, only 422 quintals of honey were harvested from the Sharankhola and Chandpai forest ranges in the Eastern Division during the 2025-26 financial year, generating Tk675,200 in revenue. The department also earned Tk 278,520 from the sale of beeswax.

646 quintals of honey and 104 quintals of beeswax were collected, generating Tk 1,035,200 and Tk 427,200 in revenue, respectively.

Forest officials attributed the drop to a significant decline in the number of honey collectors, locally known as Mawals, many of whom avoided entering the forest due to fears of attacks by jungle pirates.

Mahbub Hossain of Bogi village in Sharankhola upazila and Motaleb Hossain of Southkhali village said they collect honey from the Sundarbans every year but stayed away this season because of security concerns.

“Since we could not harvest honey, we are unemployed and our families are facing financial hardship,” they said. The reduced harvest has also affected traders.

Rasel Ahmed, an online honey trader from Khuriakhali village, said he was unable to procure the quantity of honey he needed despite offering higher prices.

“If the robbers are not brought under control in the Sundarbans, no honey collector will enter the forest to collect honey in the future,” he said. Md Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, divisional forest officer (DFO) of the Eastern Sundarbans in Bagerhat, acknowledged that the number of Mawals was lower than in previous years because of fears of forest robbers.

He said many honey collectors no longer stay overnight inside the forest, a practice once common during the harvesting season, due to the security risks posed by jungle pirates.
The DFO warned that unless poachers and jungle pirates are brought under control, the insecurity would continue to affect not only honey and beeswax collection but also fisheries and tourism, reducing revenue from the Sundarbans in the years ahead.