Protecting the Sundarbans--

FE Team | Published: January 06, 2024 19:21:45

Bangladesh is a disaster-prone country. In coastal areas, deadly cyclones accompanying tidal surges are a regular phenomenon in the country. Every time, a powerful cyclone hits us, the Sundarbans appears as our saviour by taking the first blows of these natural calamities. Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest, acts like a natural shield against cyclones and tidal surges. The mangroves do not just help reduce the wind speed drastically when the storm moves through the delta but even help break the waves and the storm surges triggered along with it. However, the Sundarbans is gradually losing its biodiversity. The wildlife and ecosystem of this rich forest are likely to disappear if we fail to ensure a pollution- and poacher-free environment for the remaining wild creatures of this forest.
It is alarming that recently on January 3, at least four deer poachers could avoid arrest when they confronted forest officials at Kobadok Forest Station in Sundarbans' Satkhira Range. They left behind one dead deer and six sacks of hunting traps. It can be assumed that they were collecting a huge quantity of venison and a strong syndicate is associated with this poachers' gang. While the Sundarbans is no longer considered a safe haven for the wild creatures due to threats from poachers, there are also environmental concerns regarding this forest as it is already known that the three main rivers of the Sundarbans are affected by microplastic pollution. And the fishes that live in those water bodies are the victims of this pollution. In a nutshell, externally and internally, the biodiversity of the Sundarbans is in a state of high risk now.
To minimise the damages, the poachers' and smugglers' syndicates have to be eradicated completely by the authorities concerned. Also, we have to conserve the wild animals of the Sundarbans by ensuring their food supply and safe habitat. Only then our World Heritage Site, the Sundarbans, will be conserved.
Jeba Tasnim Binta Alamgir,
Student of University of Dhaka,
jebatasnim41@gmail.com