Sunderbans biodiversity in danger

Oil spillage in the Sunderbans has caused a huge environmental concern and immediate steps must be taken to minimize the environmental damage. The ill-fated oil tanker sank in a river in the Sunderbans and spread oil over 20 kilometers of Shela River so far. The United Nations have also expressed their concern and called upon to stop all commercial river crafts going there. The forest authority has already formed a committee to investigate the matter. It has been estimated that 350,000 liters of furnace oil was being carried by the tanker when it sank. Due to this accident, plants, aquatic and land animals of the Sunnderbans will be harmed. This oil spillage will negatively affect the Sunderbans which is the largest mangrove forest of the world and a world heritage.  The Sunderbans cover 1,000 square kilometers and is one of the largest reserves for the Royal Bengal Tigers. I hope the government will take appropriate steps to stop recurrence of such incidents in future.

Sakibul Alam
Gopibagh,  Dhaka.