Probe body finds 6 responsible for Sundarbans fire

The forest fire that burnt out about 8.55 acres land in Chandpai range of the Sundarbans on April 13 was lit by a group of people to facilitate fishing in the area, according to a probe report.

The three-member probe body, formed by the Forest Department to investigate the incident, submitted its report to the Divisional Forest Officer of the Sundarbans East Zone on Tuesday, accusing six men of doing the evil act.

Though forest fire has turned out to be a regular incident in Chandpai range of the Sundarbans, this is the first time a probe report names the accused.

In the report, the probe body made 10 recommendations, including setting up monitoring towers in every two kilometers of the forest and excavating the water cannels in the forest which have died up,

The probe body also recommended carrying out special patrol and taking legal steps against the six people accused in the fire incident.

The accused are Shahjahan Hawladar, 58, Al Amin Hawladar, 28, Yunus Hawladar, 50, Shaheb Ali hawladar, 49, Khalil Hawladar, 35, and Sagir Hawladar, 37.

The Forest Department has already filed a case against the six fishermen in connection with incident.

Assistant Conservator of Forests of Chandpai range Belayet Hossain, who is the head of the probe body, said during investigation they found the involvement of the six accused in the incident.

Shahjahan Hawladar along with others set fire to the forest for creating a fishing field that could be used during the rainy season, he said.

On April 13, a fire broke out at Panchakoralia along Nangli camp of Dhansagar Station in Chandpai range of the Sundarbans that burnt around 8.55 acres of forest.

This was the third incident of forest fire in Chandpai range over the last three weeks. On March 27, another fire broke out in the Dhanshagor station’s Nangli forest camp area.

In the last 14 years, there have been 19 fire incidents in Chandpai and Sharankhola ranges of the Sundarbans.