Sundarbans: 18 areas not declared sanctuaries

The government is yet to declare 18 compartments of the Sundarbans as wildlife sanctuaries although an initiative was taken a year back in this regard, aiming to protect the biodiversity of the world's largest mangrove forest.

The Forest Department carried out field studies to gather data on compartment No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 11 and 12-B of Sharankhola range, compartment No. 10, 12-A, 13 and 14 of Chandpai range, No. 17, 18, 19 and 20 of Khulna range and No. 49, 51-B and 52 of Satkhira range to announce those as sanctuaries in January last year, said Jahir Uddin, forest conservator of Khulna region.

Later, the data and the map of those areas were sent to the Divisional Forest Officers (DFO) of the Sundarbans East and West zones on January 21 last year, seeking their opinion in this regard within 15 days.

Contacted, DFO Saidul Islam of Sundarbans East Department said some nine compartments out of a total 12 of Sharankhola range would be wildlife sanctuaries once the 18 proposed compartments were declared as sanctuaries.

Later, an eco-tourist spot will be built in the sanctuary area with the permission of the Forest Department.

Sundarbans, a natural habitant of 375 spices of wild animals including Bengal Tiger, deer, crocodiles and dolphin, 334 spices of evergreen trees, 315 varieties of birds, and 210 kinds of fish, was announced the 522nd World Heritage Site by Unesco, a United Nations body, on December 6, 1997.

In 2012, the Forest Department announced 18 rivers of the mangrove forest as sanctuaries for dolphins to protect the moribund Irrawaddy Dolphin.

Save the Sundarbans Foundation Chairman Dr Sheikh Faridul Islam alleged that the government was not sincere to save the mangrove forest.

"If they were sincere, they would announce a half of the Sundarbans as wildlife sanctuary as early as possible," he said.