IN THE last 22 years, there have been 24 fire incidents in the Sunderbans, the world heritage known as the lungs or heart of Bangladesh. Of the four ranges of the Sunderbans, only the Sharankhola and Chandpai ranges are alleged to be set on fire every year during the dry season. An inquiry committee is formed every time to look into the cause of forest fires, but the recommendations of the inquiry committee on forest protection remain under file and behind the scenes. According to the forest department鈥檚 calculations, 71 acres and 66 decimals of forest land have been burned 23 times in different places in the Sharankhola and Chandpai ranges alone. The damage caused by the latest fire on May 4, 2024, could not be immediately determined.
According to the data from the Forest Department, when the fire started in the Amur Bunia area of the Chandpai Range of the Sunderbans, it spread over an area of more than two kilometres. Along with the fire service, for the first time, water was sprinkled by a helicopter in the air to put out the fire. The forest department says the Sunderbans, where the fire broke out, is far away from the locality, and there is no human settlement near its edge. There are beehives in various trees in that forest area, and there is a movement of mauls to collect honey. But the exact cause of the fire is difficult to say before an investigation. However, before this, there had been cases of fire in the forest due to the smoke thrown by the honey collectors in the forest.
Bangladesh is already one of most vulnerable countries in terms of climate change. Apart from climate change, the riverine delta of Bangladesh is facing many other natural crises. Among the risks related to climate change are wildfires, excessive rainfall and flooding in coastal areas, and human-caused forest fires, which have already become evident. These issues emerged in a 2014 assessment by a United Nations committee comprising governments of various countries in Europe, Asia and Australia. Large tracts of wildfires and forest fires are on the rise. Similarly, heavy rainfall has increased in intensity in North America and Europe, and similar instances are occurring in other parts of the world. They are a serious threat to the balance of the environment and biodiversity.
According to Forest Department sources, there have been no fire incidents in the Khulna and Satkhira range areas in the last 22 years. All 24 fires, including the latest one, occurred in the Sharankhola and Chandpai range areas. The first fire broke out in the Katka and Nangali areas of the Chandpai range in 2002. On May 4, 2024, a fire broke out in the Amarbunia area of the Chandpai range.
According to media sources, dishonest fishermen deliberately set fire to and cleared different areas of the forest to facilitate fishing during the monsoon season. Although the matter is an open secret, no effective action is taken. The Sunderbans is not the only one that is burning. Wildlife and fisheries are constantly being destroyed in a vicious cycle. Committees are formed to investigate the cause of each fire, but the investigation reports and recommendations to avoid accidents have not been implemented. In earlier fire incidents, investigation reports mentioned fire coils left by honey collectors in the forest, bidi-cigarettes thrown away by fishermen, drought due to lack of rain, and miscreants deliberately starting fire as causes.
The forest department cannot avoid the responsibility of this fire. Unscrupulous fish traders and forest officials are responsible for the fire. The fire also happened due to unskilled workers. In this regard, the forest department and the government should be more proactive and take action.
The Sunderbans is a vast forest located along the Bay of Bengal and is one of the natural wonders of the world. It is the single largest mangrove forest in the world. Rich in biodiversity, the Sunderbans is one of the most attractive places for people all over the world. It is the favourite habitat of the Royal Bengal Tiger. The Sunderbans stands tall in the face of natural calamities like cyclones. The Amazon, the largest mangrove forest in South America, is called the lungs of the world, and the Sunderbans is called the lungs or heart of Bangladesh. But the Sunderbans is under extreme threat today due to negligence.
In addition to shielding the country, especially the coastal region, from natural disasters, the Sunderbans play an important role in the economy of the southwestern region of Bangladesh as well as the national economy. The Sunderbans is the single largest source of total forest resources in the country. The Sunderbans have been supplying a large portion of the raw material for industries dependent on wood. Many people make their living from the Sunderbans. But regrettably, the forest is being destroyed by the indiscriminate cutting of trees, fires and imprudent development activities.
Researchers say that the Sunderbans is one of the strengths of biodiversity and environmental protection. The Sunderbans have acted as a protective barrier to human beings during many cyclones, but the existence of the Sunderbans and such natural forests is under threat due to some man-made reasons. And the Rampal coal-based power plant built next to the Sunderbans has become a 鈥榖light on the ground鈥� of the Sunderbans, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. If this continues, it will not take long for the only natural shield to disappear.
Reportedly, the report of the inquiry committee formed at various times to prevent fires made three strong recommendations. These three recommendations are the digging of river canals that merge with the localities adjacent to the Sunderbans, the construction of watch towers every two kilometres in fire-prone areas, and the provision of barbed wire or nylon rope fencing along the Bhola River. At the same time, the report recommended more proactive role of the forest guards.
The forest department has formed an inquiry committee to determine the cause and extent of damage caused by the latest fire. We hope that the committee will identify the cause and those who are responsible and that the authorities will take action accordingly. We must protect the Sunderbans for our own good.
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Md Zillur Rahaman is a banker and columnist.
