Sundarbans fire: Forest dept suspends 3 employees

The Forest Department suspended its three employees for their negligence in duties over the recent fire incidents in the Sundarbans in Sharankhola upazila.

The suspended employees are M Nasir Uddin, in charge of Nangli forest camp of Dhansagar Station under the Chandpai range of the Sundarbans East Zone, and two boatmen of the same camp -- Polash Majumder and Mobarak Hossain.

The action was taken against them on April 19 after the allegation of their negligence during the incidents was primarily proved, said Divisional Forest Officer of Sundarbans East Zone M Sahidul Islam today.

Meanwhile, a team of Sharankhola Police Station arrested a man, Saiful Hawlader, 22, son of Dulal Hawlader of Rajeshwar village, of  east Rajapur of the upazila early today for his alleged involvement in the fire incidents, said Officer-in-Charge of the police station M Shah Alam Miah.

The Chadpai Range of the Sundarbans witnesses three incidents of fire in three weeks, at Dhanshagor station’s Nangli forest camp on March 27, at Abdullah Shila of the range on April 18 and the third one on April 13.

In the last 14 years, there have been 20 fire incidents in Chandpai and Sharankhola ranges of the mangrove forest.