Tourists, fishermen banned as Sundarbans shut till August

Published : Sunday, 31 May, 2026 at 3:23 PM Count : 12

To protect the biodiversity, wildlife and fish breeding of the Sundarbans, the Forest Department has announced a three-month ban on all types of entry into the Sundarbans from Monday (1 June). This ban will be in effect until 31 August. During this timeframe, fishermen, fishermen, fishermen and tourists will not be able to enter the Sundarbans.

The Forest Department has said that the months of June to August are the breeding season for most fish, wildlife and plants in the Sundarbans. During this period, fish lay eggs in the rivers and canals, wildlife reproduces and new seedlings grow from the seeds of various plants. Therefore, this ban has been imposed for three months like every year to keep the natural environment undisturbed.

The Forest Department will not issue any kind of pass or permit during the ban. The concerned authorities have said that legal action will be taken against anyone who enters the forest in violation of the ban.

Forest officials say that the natural movement and the reproduction of wildlife are disrupted due to the movement of tourists and forest workers' boats. If the forest is given an uninterrupted environment for three months, the number of fish, plants and wildlife will increase and the ecological balance of the Sundarbans will be further enriched.

However, it is feared that thousands of fishermen, bawalis (woodcutter) and mawalis (honey-gatherer) families dependent on the Sundarbans will face financial crisis due to this ban. Sources have informed that the Forest Department and Fisheries Department are working on government assistance for forest workers. On the other hand, tourism-dependent boat owners and workers have also said that they will spend a long three-month period without work.

Jamal Hossain, a crab fisherman in the Burigoalini area, said that closing the passes to enter the Sundarbans for three months means it is very difficult for fishermen like us.

Fisherman Anisur said that if they cannot go to the Sundarbans, coastal fishermen face financial crisis. During this period, they have to take loans from NGOs to run their families.

Ripon Gazi, the boatman of the Nildumur tourist trawler, said, "No tourists can enter the Sundarbans at this time because the pass permit is closed. And because this pass is closed, we and our families are in extreme trouble."

Burigoalini Station Officer of the Forest Department, Fazlul Haque, said that the Sundarbans will be opened to everyone again from 1 September. During this period, the Forest Department, Coast Guard, Naval Police and Fisheries Department will jointly conduct surveillance activities to preserve biodiversity.

FP/MI