Stop rampant poaching in the Sunderbans

The Sunderbans is the pride of our country-home to the world's largest mangrove forest. It is a sanctuary for the Royal Bengal Tiger, spotted deer, diverse fish species, and a wide range of forest plants. Sadly, this invaluable biodiversity is now under severe threat due to rampant poaching. In particular, hunting of deer and tigers has reached an alarming level, leading to a disruption in the delicate balance of the ecosystem.

On March 17, the Coast Guard arrested a poacher with 205 kg of deer meat, legs, and eyes. Though only one individual was caught, there is a well-organised group operating behind the scenes. Disturbingly, some forest officials are suspected of being complicit in these illegal activities. Driven by the market demand for deer and tiger meat, skin, and teeth, poachers are advancing at a dangerous pace. This not only threatens the biodiversity of the Sundarbans but also the economic potential of the region. If this is not stopped now, the Sundarbans, a significant source of revenue from eco-tourism, will face irreversible damage. While the Coast Guard's actions are commendable, the administration must take stronger and more proactive steps. Strict supervision and disciplinary action must be taken against corrupt or negligent forest officials. Intelligence surveillance needs to be intensified to identify and dismantle the funding networks behind poaching.

We strongly urge the government to enforce strict laws to combat poaching in the Sundarbans. Special operations must be conducted against poachers, and exemplary punishment must be ensured. We believe that each one of us, including the government officials and policymakers, has a role to play in protecting the Sundarbans.

Al-Farabi Bhuiyan

Department of Accounting and Information Systems

Jagannath University, Dhaka

farabi30034@gmail.com