Sundarbans Reopens to Tourists and Fishermen After Three-Month Ban

The Sundarbans, a critical ecological region encompassing areas such as Shyamnagar, Burigoalini, Gabura, and Nildumur village in Satkhira, is officially reopening on Tuesday, September 1, 2020. This reopening marks the end of a strict three-month seasonal ban that restricted both tourist travel and fishing activities across the region's rivers and canals.

Under the established regulatory framework, which has been in place since 2019, the forest department and the ministry of forests enforce an annual prohibition every year from July 1 to August 31. During this designated period, all extraction of fish from the rivers and canals of the Sundarbans, alongside the entry of tourists, is completely halted to allow the local ecosystem time to recover.

Local stakeholders, including tour operators, boat owners, and forest-dependent fishermen, have finalized all necessary arrangements in anticipation of the reopening. Shafiqul Islam noted that following the three-month restriction, individuals reliant on the forest, as well as tour operators and launch and boat owners and drivers, have concluded all preparations and have already begun accepting bookings from tourists.

To facilitate the return to the forest, local forest-dependent workers have successfully renewed their Boat Licence Certificates, or BLC passes, through the forest department. Erfan Uddin confirmed that official and comprehensive preparations are being undertaken by the forest department to guarantee the safe entry of fishermen and traditional collectors, known as bawalis, while simultaneously issuing permits and protecting the overall environment of the Sundarbans.

Despite the resumption of general access, strict environmental regulations remain firmly in place for protected zones. Md. Moshiur Rahman emphasized that prohibitions regarding entry into designated sanctuary areas within the Sundarbans will continue to remain fully enforced exactly as they were previously.

At the same time, local voices are calling for enhanced security measures to protect those entering the forest. Ripon Gazi stated that merely providing entry passes for the forest is insufficient, stressing that to safeguard forest-dependent people, regular joint patrols by law enforcement agencies and the forest department deep inside the Sundarbans must be intensified. Furthermore, Rakibul Hossain pointed out that with the active cooperation of the Sundarbans authorities, it is entirely possible to drive the tourism industry further forward.