United News of Bangladesh

The Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, straddling the border of Bangladesh and India, is a vital stronghold for the Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris). In a really engaging interview with the UNB digital team on August 4, 2025, Prof. Dr. Md. Anwarul Islam, the CEO of Wildteam, gave some eye-opening updates about the tigers living in this incredible place and other areas, sharing stories of conservation triumphs and a bit of historical context. Rising Tiger Numbers in the Bangladesh Sundarbans Recent surveys indicate a promising upward trend in the tiger population within the Bangladesh portion of the Sundarbans. According to Prof Islam, the Forest Department recorded 106 tigers in 2015 using camera trapping techniques. By 2018, a collaborative effort between the Forest Department and Wildteam counted 114 tigers. The most recent survey in 2024, conducted by the Forest Department, reported 125 adult tigers, reflecting a nearly 10% increase since 2018 and a 17.92% rise since 2015. This growth is attributed to enhanced conservation measures, including anti-poaching patrols and habitat protection initiatives. The Sundarbans ecosystem is divided between Bangladesh and India, with approximately 60% of the forest located in Bangladesh and 40% in India. Prof Islam noted that while Bangladesh hosts 125 tigers, the Indian Sundarbans is estimated to have around 100 tigers, based on the latest available data from 2022. This brings the total tiger population in the Sundarbans to an estimated 225-250. The mangrove forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the only mangrove habitat in the world inhabited by tigers, making it a critical conservation area. Read more: Poacher held with 300 deer traps in Sundarbans Table 1: Tiger population distribution in the Sundarbans. Region Estimated Tiger Count Percentage of Sundarbans Area Bangladesh 125 (2024) 60% India 100 (2022) 40% Total 225-250 100% . Global Tiger Population and India’s Role According to Prof. Islam, Globally, the tiger population is estimated at approximately 5,500, with India accounting for about 70% of this total, or roughly 3,850 tigers. According to a 2022 census, India’s tiger population stood at 3,682, with key reserves like Jim Corbett (260 tigers), Bandipur (150), and the Sundarbans (100) contributing significantly. This dominance underscores India’s pivotal role in global tiger conservation, supported by initiatives like Project Tiger and the expansion of tiger reserves. Historical Presence of Tigers in Bangladesh Prof Islam reflected on the historical distribution of tigers in Bangladesh, noting that they once roamed freely in regions such as Gazipur, Sylhet, Modhupur, and other areas. However, habitat loss, deforestation, and human encroachment have restricted their range to the Sundarbans. He cited an example of a tiger killed in Gazipur approximately 100 years ago, illustrating the significant contraction of tiger habitats over time. Today, the Sundarbans remains the last refuge for tigers in Bangladesh, emphasizing the need to protect this critical ecosystem. Read more: UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Bangladesh Clarifying the Royal Bengal Tiger A common misconception is that the "Royal Bengal tiger" is a distinct subspecies. Prof Islam clarified that the term refers to the habitat rather than a unique taxonomic classification. The Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) is found across Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Bhutan, thriving in diverse environments from mangrove swamps to deciduous forests. The Sundarbans’ tigers are morphologically distinct due to their adaptation to the mangrove habitat, but they are part of the broader Bengal tiger population. Tiger Subspecies and Habitat Loss Historically, there were nine recognized tiger subspecies, but only six remain today due to extinction events over the past century. These include: Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris): Found in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar.Indochinese tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti): Inhabits Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni): Found in peninsular Malaysia.Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica): Resides in the Russian Far East and parts of China.Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sondaica): Found only on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.South China tiger (Panthera tigris amoyensis): Functionally extinct in the wild, with small populations in captivity.  Prof. Islam’s words stayed with me. The Sundarbans’ 125 tigers in Bangladesh are a sign of hope, thanks to years of hard work. But the fight isn’t over. We need to keep protecting this forest. The Bengal tiger, with its quiet strength, depends on the Sundarbans and on us. This interview reminded me why we can’t look away from this fight to save a piece of our wild heritage. Read more: Govt to ban new industrial units within 10km of Sundarbans ECA

Forest officials detained an alleged poacher who hunted deer in the Sundarbans as part of ongoing drives against illegal wildlife hunting. The arrestee Ariful Islam Dulal, a resident of Patharghata in Barguna, was caught red-handed along with 300 deer traps during a raid in Shukpara canal area under Bagerhat’s Sarankhola Range of Sundarbans East Division on on Monday, said Divisional Forest Officer Md Rezaul Karim Chowdhury. Officials also seized knives, saws, rope, and other hunting equipment from the spot. Dulal was sent to jail through a court on Tuesday. Govt to formulate concrete action plan to protect Sundarbans: Rizwana According to the Forest Department, in the last two months, 34 people including three deer poachers were arrested, while 42 kg of venison, three deer heads, and thousands of traps were recovered from the Sundarbans. The department also seized 53 boats, three tons of fishing nets, 400 spears, and other illegal fishing equipment during the drives. A total of 42 cases have been filed so far, implicating 76 people.

Coast Guard members have detained two suspected members of notorious ‘Karim-Sharif Gang’, a Sundarbans-based robbery gang from Adasgi area along Shibsha River in the Sundarbans on Monday. The arrestees were identified as Saddam Khan, 20 and Abbas Molla, 40, two associates of Karim-Sharif Gang. Poaching surge threatens deer population in Sundarbans Tipped off, a team of Coast Guard members conducted a drive in the area and arrested them with two guns, one short gun, one play gun, arms making equipment, 23 rounds of cartridges, 204 rounds of blank cartridges, nine local weapons, four axes, seven saws, ten iron rods, five hammers, one solar panel, 28 mobile phones, 11 wakitaki chargers and two boats, said a press release of coast guard issued on Tuesday.  

The government has decided to prohibit the establishment of new industrial units and projects within 10 kilometres of the Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) surrounding the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will soon issue a gazette notification in this regard, officials said on Monday. The decision  was taken at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Environment and Climate Change Committee at the Secretariat with Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan in the chair. In the Heart of the Sundarbans: Where Tigers Roam, Honeybees Thrive, and Communities Lead A neutral panel of experts will assess the environmental impact of existing industrial units within the 10km ECA zone. Based on these assessments and existing court orders, further decisions will be made regarding those establishments. The meeting also approved amendments to the Climate Change Trust Rules allowing joint project proposals from government, private organisations, and NGOs. It was also decided that all ministries will be consulted to formulate the next action plan to tackle noise pollution. Poaching surge threatens deer population in Sundarbans Proposals were also made to increase the enforcement budget of the Environment Ministry and to introduce and enhance risk allowances for Forest Department personnel. Besides, a target was set to ensure that at least 30 percent of bricks used in public and private construction by 2025 are concrete blocks. A coordination meeting at the secretary level will be held in May to follow up on the implementation.

In the heart of the Sundarbans, where diverse wildlife roam freely, a silent crisis is unfolding — a disturbing surge in illegal deer poaching is sweeping across the world’s largest mangrove forest and Unesco World Heritage Site. In the past three months alone, Forest Department officials and the Coast Guard personnel have recovered 641 kilogrammes of venison and detained 22 people involved in poaching operations across various areas, according to officials. Wildlife experts and local residents are alarmed, warning that this unchecked poaching could severely disrupt the Sundarbans' delicate ecological balance — potentially leading to the disappearance of its iconic Royal Bengal Tigers, which depend heavily on deer as their primary food source. However, the poaching rings — sophisticated and persistent — show no signs of slowing down. According to data provided by the Eastern and Western Divisions of the Sundarbans Forest Department and the Mongla Coast Guard West Zone, several joint operations were conducted between January and March. These efforts led to the seizure of a slaughtered deer, another dead deer, two hides, two heads, eight legs, 160 traps, four trawlers, five boats, a microbus, seven mobile phones, and the arrest of 22 individuals. Deer poaching in Sundarbans rising at alarming rate amid lax monitoring So far, 25 separate cases have been filed. Despite periodic crackdowns, organised poaching rings continue unabated. Poachers typically enter the forest illegally, set traps or use poisonous bait to capture spotted deer, slaughter them on site and then transport the meat to nearby villages for sale. Venison is reportedly sold for Tk 1,000 to Tk 1,200 per kilogramme in both local and distant markets, including capital Dhaka, over 250 kilometres away. Local voices echo the alarm. Jamal Gazi, a fisherman and community patrol group (CPG) member from Sharankhola upazila, claims that nearly 100 active deer poachers operate in the area, often under the protection of influential figures. Gazi, a long-time advocate for forest conservation, says he has received threats for his stance. “Despite our appeals, the poaching continues. We are risking our lives to save the forest, but they [poachers] are well-organised and well-connected," he said. “Poachers don’t need to invest to obtain deer — they enter the forest, kill the animals, and sell the meat for a significant profit. That’s why they are increasingly motivated,” said Dr Anwarul Islam, wildlife expert and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of WildTeam. “The deer is the tiger’s primary food source. If deer vanish from the Sundarbans, so will the tiger,” he warned. Forest officials said surveillance and patrols are being stepped up, particularly in high-risk zones such as Dacope, Chandpai, Sharankhola and Mongla. Kazi Muhammad Nurul Karim, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Eastern Sundarbans, stated that patrols have been intensified and no compromise will be made with anyone found colluding with poachers. DFO AZM Hasanur Rahman of the Western Division admitted the challenges persist. “We’re conducting regular operations and inspecting suspicious trawlers and boats at various forest points,” he said, noting that his division alone had seized 255 kilogrammes of venison and recovered both a slaughtered and a dead deer in the past three months. 'Festival of poaching' endangers bird life in Bagerhat beel Residents and wildlife experts are calling for a multipronged strategy to address the crisis. This includes stricter enforcement of wildlife protection laws, stronger political will, public awareness campaigns, and rehabilitation schemes offering alternative livelihoods to former poachers. “We must involve local communities in conservation efforts. People need to realise that deer are tiger food — not human food. Without reducing demand, we cannot cut off supply,” said Dr Anwarul Islam. He emphasised the need for a national awareness campaign with a clear message: “Say No to Venison.” The Sundarbans — spanning 6,017 square kilometres, including 4,143 square kilometres of land and 1,873 square kilometres of water — is home to an estimated 136,604 spotted deer and 125 Royal Bengal Tigers. As poaching networks grow more sophisticated, officials and conservationists fear time is running out — for the deer, for the tigers, and for the Sundarbans itself. With additional support from Julfekar Dehan.  

Bangladesh, a land rich in culture and history, proudly hosts several UNESCO World Heritage Sites that reflect its diverse heritage and natural wonders. From the serene Sundarbans—the world’s largest mangrove forest—to the ancient architectural marvels of Bagerhat and Paharpur, these sites are globally recognised for their cultural and ecological significance.  Each heritage site tells a unique story of the country’s past, offering a glimpse into its spiritual, artistic, and environmental legacy. As tourism grows and conservation becomes crucial, these treasures not only attract global admiration but also highlight the importance of preserving history for future generations.  List of World UNESCO Heritage Sites in Bangladesh Here is a closer look at Bangladesh’s iconic UNESCO World Heritage Sites.  Historic Mosque City of Bagerhat Located in the Bagerhat District in the southwestern region of Bangladesh, the Historic Mosque City of Bagerhat is one of the country's most treasured UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Recognised in 1985 under UNESCO's cultural heritage list, this ancient city offers a fascinating glimpse into the Islamic architectural legacy of the Bengal Sultanate era.  Originally known as Khalifatabad, the city was founded in the 15th century by a revered Turkic general and Sufi saint, Ulugh Khan Jahan, who was appointed governor by Sultan Mahmud Shah. Spread across nearly 50 square kilometres, the city flourished along the banks of the Bhairab River near the edge of the Sundarbans and became an urban masterpiece of its time. Read more: Top 15 Heritage Sites of Bangladesh Bagerhat is especially renowned for its incredible brick architecture, with the iconic Sixty Dome Mosque (Shat Gombuj Masjid) standing as the centrepiece. Built using baked bricks, the mosque features 77 domes supported by 60 stone pillars and showcases a distinctive blend of Persian, Arab, and Bengali architectural influences. Beyond its religious function, it also served as a madrasa and assembly hall. 

Coast Guard (CG) members rescued 33 fishers, including six women, from a den of pirates, who allegedly abducted them for ransom a few days back, from a deep jungle in the Sundarbans. The CG men also recovered 16 fishing boats from the den but no pirate could be detained in this regard. All the victims hail from Koyra upazila of Khulna district. According to a CG statement issued on Thursday, the operatives of the notorious Karim Sharif pirate gang abducted the fishers and took away their boats while they were fishing in the Karkari River of the mangrove forest. 50 pirates surrender with firearms in Ctg The pirates took the victims to their den and demanded Tk 10, 000 as ransom to their families against each victim, reads the statement. Acting tipped-off, the CG members from Mongla Base and Nalian Outpost conducted a raid in the river to rescue the victims from 11am to 7pm on Wednesday. Sensing the presence of the law enforcers, the pirates opened fire in the blank and at one stage they fled the remote forest, said the statement. Later, the fishers were rescued from the den, along with the boats. After giving first-aid at Koyra station of the CG, a process was underway to hand over the victims to their families, it added.

One of the first things I noticed, the night I arrived in Bangladesh, was that the moon lies on its side here as if it's smiling. This showed me how far away from home I was, closer to the equator, but also foreshadowed that the main thing the moon causes is stronger here: the tides. The first days in Dhaka were a flood of impressions. Fantastic impressions — of Iftars with the tastiest food — to playing guitar in the park. In such a bustling city, where at every street corner, something interesting seems to be going on. Then came the start of our cycling trip: through Dhaka towards the port. On Thursday afternoon (March 27), we criss-crossed through broad motorways surrounded by hordes of tuktuks, rikshaws, trucks, motors, making a chaotic symphony of honks, toots, and sirens, as well as narrow alleys full of shoppers, stalls, and all sorts of different shops. The people were leaving Dhaka for their hometowns to celebrate the final days of Ramadan, and we were right in between this high tide, flowing back into a sea of villages. Buzzing in my head on the boat/launch towards Barishal, catching any sleep was no easy feat, so it failed, but fueled by excitement around 6 am we arrived and started cycling. How far? Around 120 km. How long? Hopefully we'll be there before sunset. Now we were complete, four Bagh Bikers on their way towards the Sundarbans, and after some first kilometers on the main roads, we gathered the courage and curiosity to try out the little and adventurous roads. Finally, ebbed, because although we were biking slower now, we saw so much beauty along the way: beautiful landscapes, forest, fields, and little villages.

The road to saving the Sundarbans has always demanded more than just talk—it requires sweat, blisters, and the kind of stubborn hope that keeps you pedaling when the sun burns, and the path turns rough. On March 28-30, 2025, Dutch Ambassador Andre Carstens proved just that, trading diplomatic corridors for the dust and grit of a 163-kilometer cycling expedition from Barishal to the heart of tiger country: WildTeam’s Conservation Biology Centre, TigerHouse, in Joymoni in the Sundarbans. Accompanied by his son, Carstens Jacobus Hermanus, and two other Dutch friends, Niels van den Berge (former Member of Parliament in the Netherlands) and Jongman Karin, Andre wasn’t leading a polished delegation or a media caravan. This was a quiet, deliberate pilgrimage—one that mirrored a similar journey twelve years ago, when a ragtag team of conservationists, diplomats, and students pedaled rickshaws across Bangladesh to sound the alarm for the Bengal tiger. Back then, the mission was to drag the tiger’s plight into the spotlight. This time, it was about feeling the pulse of the Sundarbans firsthand—the heat, the whispers of the mangroves, and the weight of its fragile survival. Andre Carstens, along with the EU Deputy Head of Delegation, Dr. Bernd Spanier, visited the WildTeam Conservation Biology Centre on January 10-11, 2025, for the first time. In less than 80 days, he returned to the same environment just to experience the challenges faced by Bengal tigers, their habitat, and the local communities while also raising awareness among national and international audiences. Andre feels that "People think the Sundarbans is just a forest, but it’s a living, breathing shield for Bangladesh. When you bike through it, you see how much it gives—and how much it’s losing."

The Sundarbans doesn’t make survival easy—not for the tigers that stalk their tangled mangroves, not for the rivers that rewrite its shores with every monsoon, and certainly not for the people who call this wilderness home. But there’s a raw, stubborn beauty in that struggle. This is where Bangladesh’s last tigers hold on, and where, for decades, ordinary people have done extraordinary things to keep their roar alive. Take 2013: twenty strangers including Danish Ambassador to Bangladesh Svend Olling, his son, students, entrepreneurs—piled onto cycle rickshaws and pedaled 400 kilometers from Teknaf, the southernmost tip of the country. It was arranged by WildTeam. Their mission? To drag the tiger’s plight into the spotlight. The roads were merciless, the heat suffocating, but something unexpected kept them going. Kids sprinting beside them, shouting ‘Shabash’ (hurrah’)! Fishermen waving from muddy riverbanks. Strangers pressing cups of ‘chaa’ (tea) into their hands. By the time they reached Joymoni, near Mongla at the edge of the Sundarbans, they weren’t just exhausted, they were changed. Twelve years later, today history echoed—this time on two wheels. Charge D'Affaires of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Bangladesh Andre Carstens, his son, Carstens Jacobus Hermanus, and two of his Dutch friends Niels van den Berge and Jongman Karin cycled from Barishal to TigerHouse at Joymoni, near Mongla, WildTeam’s conservation hub deep in tiger country. This is the same place where the rickshaw challengers ended their journey. No fanfare, no big team—just four riders with a simple goal: to feel the land beneath them. They’d biked Bangladesh before, but this was different. Past the brick kilns and rice paddies, past the villages where tigers still slip into backyards, they were tracing a thread between people and wilderness. As Ambassador Carstens and his 29-year-old son cycled toward TigerHouse, Niels’s two-year-old son, Sam, eagerly awaited their arrival with his mother, Sampa, and his grandparents. The young boy’s excitement added a heartwarming touch to the adventure.