Special security measures at Sundarbans’ Chandpai Range

The fourth fire incident in barely four weeks’ time at Chandpai Range in Sharankhola upazila of the Sundarbans has prompted the Forest Department to put in place a number of special security measures there.

The measures are a temporary ban on issuance of all types of ‘pass permit’ for general people, on forest resource collection and on entry to the forest by all like fishermen, mowal and bhawali.

The ban took effect today and remain in force until further notice, said Mohammad Zahiruddin, forest conservator of the department.

Meanwhile, a six-member probe committee, led by Mohammad Moazed Hossain, joint secretary of Environment and Forests Ministry, has been formed to investigate the fire incidents.

The committee was asked to submit its report by 10 days.

The fourth fire incident in Tultala area of the Sundarbans under Chandpai Range of the upazila broke out yesterday.

The repeated fire incidents in the world’s largest mangrove forest and a Unesco world heritage site have irked the environment activists as they say such incidents may cast a far-reaching adverse impact on its ecosystem.