Bagerhat Correspondent :
The leave of the forest guards has been limited. The Eastern Division of Sundarbans has taken this decision to prevent poachers from hunting deer in view of the recent fire in the Sundarbans and upcoming the holy Eid-ul-Fitr.
According to the Forest Department sources, in the last one week, two fires broke out in Teishshila of Taperbil of Kalamteji Forest Patrol Outpost and Shaplarbil of Dhansagar Forest Patrol Outpost under Chandpai Forest Range in the Eastern Division of Sundarbans in Bagerhat district.
The fire was extinguished after long 6 days with the tireless efforts by the Forest Department and Fire Service. The fire caused extensive damage to the forest. About 6 acres of forest lands were burnt. On the other hand, the violence of deer hunters is on the increase in Sundarbans in the last few days. Deer-meat (venison) were recovered from many places.
Before and after Eid, there were reports of deer meat being sold secretly at the night in localities, adjacent to Sundarbans. People come from far away and buy venison. Poachers have become more reckless in hunting deer and other wildlife in Sundarbans ahead of Eid. For all these reasons, the Eastern Sundarbans division has issued a red alert and announced to limit the leave of the forest guards to prevent the fire-bandits and the poachers.
Rana Deb (ACF) Range Officer, Sharankhola under the Eastern Sundarbans division told that in ahead of the Eid, forest officers and forest guards of all the patrol outposts and stations in Sundarbans have been asked to conduct special surveillance to catch the poachers. The forest guards have intensified their patrol activities.
Kazi Muhammad Nurul Karim, DFO (Divisional Forest Officer) of the Eastern Sundarbans, said that a red alert has been issued in the Sundarbans. The leave of the forest guards has been limited. No one will be given leave except for special urgent needs. Every year, the poachers’ gangs rear up their heads ahead of Eid. Apart from that, a cycle of forest fires occurs during the dry season. Forest guards have been instructed to conduct special patrols to prevent them.
