The Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest, protects Bangladesh, particularly its south-western region, from various natural calamities. The mangrove plays a very important role in the economy of the south-western region. It is rich in flora and fauna. There are more than 400 species of wildlife. It is the habitat of world famous Royal Bengal Tigers, spotted deer, crocodiles, Rhesus, lizards, wild boar, monkey, jungle fowl and etc. There are 315 species of birds and 29 species of fishes. There are 245 general and 334 plant species.
There was a hue and cry everywhere after the oil spill due to sinking of oil tanker Southern Star 7 on December 09, 2014 for stopping plying of oil tankers and cargo vessels in the Shela and other rivers passing through the Sundarbans. Every conscious citizen expected that there would be a national debate on this. No such initiatives were taken by the government. Rather, it opened the Shela and other rivers passing through the Sundarbans for movement of water vessels.
The short, medium and long-term impact of oil spill has not yet been studied properly. Seventy thousand out of 350,000 litres of furnace oil could be collected. The rest remains in the eco-systems of the Sundarbans. Unless vigorous attempts are made for removing oil layers in canals, creeks and river sides, the damage will be far reaching. Press reports suggest that about 30 tons of furnace oil-wrapped utensils were deposited with the forest department. The department is now in a fix as to how these contaminated utensils will be disposed of. Meanwhile, a survey revealed that people, who were involved in the removal of furnace oil, have been suffering from some diseases. Crocodiles and dolphins are not reported to have been found in last couples of weeks in the Shela river. The immediate effects are, therefore, manifold. The long-term impact is yet to be known. It will require at least one year's close observation and analysis. Experts opine that the effects could be observed over a long period of time.
Meanwhile, the government has taken initiatives for re-excavation of the Ghasiakhali channel connecting the Mongla port. It has been a popular demand for a long time. Even the Prime Minister asked for quick implementation of such a project. The re-excavation has become a difficult job now. There emerged housing projects, bridge-culverts, houses and innumerable shrimp farms on the silted areas of the Ghasiakhali river. There are about 32 canals linked to the Mongla-Gasiakhali Channel which have been illegally occupied by land and river grabbers. The local influential people have captured most of these canals and started shrimp farming. All these canals have died. About 300 illegal dams were constructed over these canals. There are more than 50 small bridges and culverts over these canals.
Press reports suggest that a large number of government housing projects were developed along the Mongla-Ghasiakhali channel. The local administration is reported to have undertaken moves to remove illegal dams on 32 canals connecting the Mongla-Ghasiakhali channel. But no move has yet been reported to evict the housing societies developed along the channel. Moreover, there are about 300 small canals beside 32 big ones. Most of them are silted now. There are many polders (water dams) constructed by the Water Development Board (WDB). These have also disturbed the flow of water. Thus, the task is huge.
In order to save the Sundarbans, the movement of oil tankers and commercial vessels should be restricted to the minimum in the Shela river in the short term and should be permanently stopped in two years. Simultaneously, the re-excavation of the Mongla-Ghasiakhali channel should be conducted speedily. It requires some important auxiliary works. These include restoration of connecting 32 canals and re-excavation of numerous small canals, eviction of newly-emerged housing projects, removal of some water dams and some small bridges and culverts. An integrated authority has to be immediately formed to conduct this work.
It should be noted that international organisations or experts will not come straightway to save the Sundarbans. The government and the people of the country should be conscious and committed to save this natural gift -- the Sundarbans.
Bangladesh is a signatory to many international conventions, treaties and protocols covering various aspects of environment including wildlife management, wetland conservation, soil conservation, water pollution, land degradation as well as desertification. Bangladesh has ratified almost all conventions and treaties including the Ramsar convention to protect wetlands of international importance, World Heritage convention for protection of world cultural and natural heritage, convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora, convention on the conservation of migratory species of wild animals, convention on biological diversity, the Basel convention on the trans-boundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal, etc.
The Sundarbans was declared the World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1997. The government also declared the Sundarbans and the Tanguar Haor as Ramsar sites under the Ramsar convention. The government has also passed several laws and regulations like the Environment Protection Act, the Wildlife Protection Act, the Mongla Port Authority Act and several others to give a legal basis to protect the Sundarbans. These suggest that Bangladesh has both domestic and international obligations to save the world's largest mangrove forests, the Sundarbans. Both short, medium-and long-term measures are required to be undertaken without wastage of time. People and experts like to see some visible actions shortly.
The writer is a former
Environment Secretary.
chowdhuryjafar@ymail.com
© 2026 - All Rights with The Financial Express
