Alongside Forest Department officials local people are also clearing the oil spill-hit vegetation in the Sundarbans. The photo was taken on Wednesday. — Collected
A meeting of the parliamentary standing committee on the ministry of forest and environment asked the authorities concerned to ban movement of all risky and unfit oil tankers in and around the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest, reports BSS.
The recommendation was made at an emergency meeting of the committee held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in the city with its chairman Mohammad Hassan Mahmud in the chair.
Committee members Environment and Forest Minister Anwar Hossain, Deputy Minister Abdullah Al Islam Jacob, Nabi Newaz, Mohammad Golam Rabbani, Tipu Sultan, Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury and Merina Rahman attended it.
The meeting asked the concerned ministry to submit the report about the impact on environment and nature in the Sundarbans area due to oil spilled from the tanker that was capsized in the Shela River.
About the health risk of those who are involved with oil collection there, the committee has also asked health ministry for taking necessary measures to provide adequate manpower in the affected area.
The meeting was also informed that a total of 60,800 litres of furnace oil were collected till to date. It was also informed that existence of grease oil could not be found in the area.
UNB adds: The JS body also asked the government to submit an assessment report on the long-term impact of the oil spill in the Shela River of the Sundarbans.
They also noted that the dissolved oxygen (DO) in the Shela River improved to an average level of 6.8ml per litre.
However, in response to a government request, the UN system in Bangladesh has mobilised an international team of experts to support the government's drive to clean up the oil spill in the Sundarbans.
A United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team arrived in Dhaka to support the ground work in coordination with the government, said a UN media note on Thursday evening.
The advance team that arrived on Tuesday and the additional team members are expected to be here over the weekend.
The team will also conduct an assessment and advise the government on recovery and risk reduction measures, the release said.
This UN support to the government of Bangladesh is led by UNDP with support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)/the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Joint Environment Unit (JEU), and other partner countries including the US, the UK, France and the EU's Civil Protection Mechanism.
The oil spill took place on December 9. Subsequently, the government requested the UNDP on December 15 to support government's efforts.
© 2026 - All Rights with The Financial Express
