United News of Bangladesh

Members of Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG) in a drive arrested two members, including the second-in-command of forest robber gang “Karim-Sharif Bahini” along with arms and ammunition from the Sundarbans in Dakop upazila of Khulna district early Sunday. The arrestees were identified as Rabiul Sheikh, 30, of Rampal upazila, and Rajon Sharif, 20, the second-in-command of the gang hailing from Morrelganj upazila of Bagerhat. The BCG members also rescued four fishermen from the clutch of the robbers during the drive. Tipped off, a team of BCG, as part of “Operation Mangrove Shield”, conducted a drive in the Dhangmari area of the Sundarbans around 4:00am and arrested two members of the forest robber gang. At that time, they also rescued four fishermen, said BCG Media Officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam. Later, the team recovered three guns and 24 rounds of bullets from the spot. Rajon Sharif had long been involved in kidnapping fishermen and others in the Sundarbans for ransom. He was wanted also in a murder case filed at Sadar Police Station in Bagerhat, said Sabbir.  

A total of 61 members of various robber gangs have been detained in joint operations over the past 18 months. Captain Mohammad Mesbaul Islam, Zonal Commander of Coast Guard West Zone Headquarters, said on Sunday that they launched drives  titled ‘Operation Restore Peace in the Sundarbans’ and ‘Operation Mangrove Shield,’ to curb robber activities in the Sundarbans. During the drives, members of several groups including Karim-Sharif, Nana Bhai, Chhota Suman, Alif, and Asabur, were detained. Authorities also recovered 80 firearms and 599 rounds of ammunition during the drives. Besides, 78 fishermen and three tourists were rescued. The Coast Guard sources said 944 kg of venison, 900 traps, and a large quantity of illegal goods linked to 29 poachers were seized as part of wildlife protection efforts. Illegal nets worth around Tk 1,806 crore and a significant amount of fish fry were also seized. Security surveillance has intensified across the Sundarbans including Harbaria, Kaikhali, Koyra, Nalian, Mandarbari, and Shyamnagar in Satkhira, as part of ongoing anti-poaching operations. Personnel from the Navy, RAB, Coast Guard, Police, Forest Department, and other agencies are participating in the joint drive.

Over 10,000 fishermen in the Sundarbans have suspended their fishing activities amid growing fears of attacks by forest pirates, highlighting renewed security concerns in the region. Fishermen from Dubla Char, a key hub for dry-fish processing, stopped venturing into the sea and rivers from Wednesday evening after the reported abduction of 20 colleagues on Monday night. Their whereabouts remain unknown, causing widespread alarm among local communities. Md Kamal Uddin Ahmed, president of the Dubla Fishermen Group and a freedom fighter, told UNB from Alorkol that inadequate security in the Sundarbans and surrounding waters has left fishermen terrified of further kidnappings. “Over 10,000 fishermen engaged in dry-fish processing stopped fishing in the sea and rivers from Wednesday evening and are now staying idle on the char,” he said. With the fishing season nearing its end, many fear returning home empty-handed. Kamal Uddin alleged that four pirate gangs, identified as Jahangir, Suman, Sharif and Karim Bahini, are currently active, abducting fishermen and demanding ransom. Those unable to pay, he added, are often severely beaten. The resurgence of piracy follows years of relative calm. The Sundarbans were declared pirate-free in 2018, but attacks have reportedly increased under the interim administration. At least four fishermen were admitted to Rampal Hospital last week with serious injuries from pirate assaults. Kurigram looks to new government for solutions to river erosion, jobs crisis Motasim Forazi, president of the Rampal Fishermen’s Association in Alorkol, described the situation, “Earlier we used to say, ‘Crocodiles in water, tigers on land.’ Now it’s ‘pirates at sea.” He said over 100 fishermen are currently being held captive, with multiple abductions recorded in the past two weeks. The 20 men taken on Monday have yet to be traced, though the pirates reportedly left a mobile number for ransom negotiations. Officials from the Forest Department expressed concern over the economic impact. Milton Roy, officer-in-charge of the Dubla Patrol Outpost under the Sundarbans East Forest Division, warned that the fishing halt could cause significant revenue losses. Sharankhola Forest Station Officer Md Khalilur Rahman noted that no fishermen are currently collecting permits, a situation likely to affect the division’s monthly revenue targets. Local traders, including grocers Jalal Molla, Anwar Saudagar, and Ripon Hawlader, reported a sharp decline in business due to the fishing suspension. Assistant Conservator of Forests Md Shariful Islam said authorities have been alerted to the rise in piracy, and forest guards are working to safeguard fishermen. As the community waits anxiously for news of the missing fishermen, the fragile balance between livelihoods and security in the Sundarbans remains under severe threat.

Six fishermen were allegedly kidnapped by forest robbers from Shelar Char in the eastern side of Sundarbans early Saturday. The abducted fishermen were identified as Khairul, 35, Faruk, 28, Samsul Islam, 25, Safrul, 32, Maruf, 28, and Milon, 30. All of them hailed from Koyra, Rampal and Morelganj upazilas of Bagerhat and Khulna districts. Milton Roy, officer-in-charge of the Dubla Forest Patrol Outpost under the East Sundarbans, said members of the notorious robber gang ‘Karim Sharif Bahini’ stormed the area around 12:30am and kidnapped the six fishermen at gunpoint. Besides, a fishing trawler was taken away by the robbers from the Loitrakhali area of Dubla on Thursday night, he added. Panic has gripped the fishermen staying at Shelar Char, a fishing village near the patrol outpost, following the incident. Md Shariful Islam, Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) and Range Officer of the Sharankhola Range, said instructions have been given to intensify patrols by forest guards at the Shelar Char Forest Patrol Outpost to ensure the safety of the fishermen.  

The recent rescue of a Royal Bengal Tiger after it was caught in a deer snare has once again drawn attention to rampant poaching and the widespread use of deadly traps deep inside the Sundarbans, posing a growing threat to the forest’s apex predator. On January 4, the Forest Department rescued an injured tiger after it became ensnared in a deer trap in the Chandpai range. The animal is currently undergoing treatment at the Khulna Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre. Although the increased movement of tigers of all ages in Sharankhola and Chandpai ranges of the Sundarbans has sparked optimism among wildlife experts. Yet this hopeful picture is shadowed by a growing crisis: a sharp decline in deer, the tiger’s primary prey. The mangrove forest is once again showing signs of revival, with the number of Royal Bengal Tigers rising over the past six years. The latest Forest Department survey in 2024 recorded 125 adult tigers, marking an almost 10 percent increase compared to 2018 and a 17.92 percent rise since 2015. Announcing the tiger 2024 survey result EnvironmentAdviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan at a press conference said the tiger population density in the Sundarbans is now 2.64 tigers per 100 square kilometres. Rampant deer poaching, especially during new moon and full moon nights, is eroding the very food base that sustains the apex predator of the Sundarbans. Experts say about 80 percent of a tiger’s diet comes from spotted deer while the remaining 20 percent consists of wild boar, jungle cats and monkeys. The widespread and regular hunting of deer has severely reduced prey availability in the forest.Wildlife specialists warn that if this trend continues, the gains made in tiger conservation could be reversed. Nirmal Kumar Pal, forest officer of the Wildlife and Nature Conservation Division in Khulna, confirmed increased tiger movement in the Chandpai and Sharankhola ranges. To Save Tigers in Bangladesh, Deer Farming Must End “Eighty percent of a tiger’s food comes from deer with the rest from wild boar, jungle cats and monkeys,” he said, underscoring the link between prey decline and tiger behaviour. Silent Traps in Deep Forests Poachers are increasingly using leaf traps and sedative tablets deep inside the forest to hunt deer. As a result, the Chandpai, Sharankhola, Satkhira and Khulna ranges are experiencing an acute prey shortage. According to wildlife experts a fully grown tiger needs at least 50 to 60 kilograms of meat per week and when food becomes scarce, tigers are more likely to cross rivers and canals and stray into human settlements, increasing the risk of conflict. The publication Sundarban notes that according to a 2023 survey, the forest had 131,604 spotted deer. Conservationists said this number is already below what is required to sustainably support the growing tiger population. Thousands of Traps Seized Forest Department records reveal the scale of the challenge. From May to December last year alone, the Sundarbans East Forest Division recovered more than 61,400 traps of various kinds. In the western division, officials seized 3,148 feet of traps over the past two years. During the same period, authorities recovered 1,148 kilograms of deer meat from poachers. A total of 72 cases were filed naming 192 accused. Farewell to our Friend of Tigers, Dutch ambassador Andre Carstens Rezaual Karim Chowdhury, divisional forest officer of the Sundarbans East Division, said areas such as Bishwaspara, Charduani, Gangpara and Sharankhola in Patharghata upazila saw comparatively higher numbers of seized traps. “Similarly, large quantities of traps have been recovered from Kalabagi and Baniakhali under the Sundarbans West Division,” he added. A Threat Recognised, But Unresolved Professor MA Aziz of Jahangirnagar University’s Department of Zoology and a noted tiger expert warned that leaf traps pose a major threat not only to deer but also to tigers themselves. “This issue is clearly mentioned in the Tiger Action Plan (2018–2027),” he said. He noted that deer hunting has become a secondary source of income for many forest-dependent people. “Demand for deer meat in local markets rises during new moon and full moon nights, leading to increased poaching,” he said, adding, “The forest no longer has the number of deer it needs. At the same time, tigers risk losing limbs or even their lives after getting caught in traps.” As the number of tiger inches upward, experts stress that protecting prey species is now the most urgent task. Without ensuring a healthy deer population, they warn, the Sundarbans’ fragile success story could quickly turn into another conservation setback where more tigers roam the forest, but with too little food to survive.

A critically injured tigress rescued from a poacher’s trap in the Sundarbans is battling for survival, wildlife experts said on Monday, raising renewed concern over illegal hunting in the world’s largest mangrove forest. The Forest Department rescued the 3–4-year-old tigress from a nylon rope snare near Boiragi Bari along the Sarkir Canal in Mongla upazila of Bagerhat district on Sunday afternoon. Veterinarians said the animal had remained trapped for several days, leaving it severely weakened and traumatised. Dr Julkar Nayen, veterinary officer of Gazipur Safari Park, said the tigress’s left leg suffered deep injuries due to prolonged entanglement in the trap. “The leg has rotted, blood circulation has stopped, blood vessels are damaged and body cells have been affected,” he said. The animal is suffering from mineral and salt deficiency and severe starvation. He said fluid discharge was observed from the tigress’s nose and her overall physical condition remains critical. “She is not fit to be shifted elsewhere at this stage. Treatment is ongoing, but it is difficult to predict recovery,” he added. Khulna Wildlife and Nature Conservation Department DFO Nirmal Kumar Pal, said the tigress regained consciousness on Sunday evening but remains in trauma. Tigress trapped in poachers’ snare in Sundarbans rescued “She is not walking and has refused food despite repeated attempts. Saline and medicines mixed with water are being administered,” he said, adding that a specialist team is monitoring her condition and she may be shifted to Dhaka if required. Meanwhile, the Forest Department has launched combing operations across several areas of the Sundarbans East Division to recover poachers’ traps. Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Sundarbans East Division Md Rezaul Karim Chowdhury said the operation began on Monday morning and will continue for at least two days. “Although no poachers have been arrested so far, about 35,000 feet of deer-hunting snares have been seized over the past 8 months,” he said. Khulna region Conservator of Forests Imran Ahmed said the tigress became critically weak after remaining trapped without food for days. “Advice from both local and foreign veterinarians is being sought,” he said. Wildlife experts criticised delays in the rescue operation, saying earlier intervention might have reduced the severity of the injuries. They urged the authorities to strengthen surveillance and take swift action to protect tigers in the Sundarbans. Wildlife expert and CEO of WildTeam Professor Dr Anwarul Islam called for maximum efforts to save the tigress, stressing coordinated action involving forest officials, veterinarians, universities and relevant ministries. Global tiger trafficking crisis deepens as 9 big cats seized each month “The tiger is the guardian of the Sundarbans, and local people are the guardians of the tiger. Without tigers, the Sundarbans cannot survive,” he said. Prof Anwarul Islam said that the tiger is the national animal of Bangladesh. The Sundarbans is the only refuge for the tiger. Currently, there are 125 tigers in the Sundarbans. “We do not want to lose even a single tiger.” The tigress was first spotted by a fisherman on Saturday afternoon, about half a kilometre inside the forest. After surrounding the area, forest officials tranquilised the animal on Sunday afternoon and transported it to the Khulna Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre. According to Forest Department data, the number of tigers in the Bangladesh part of the Sundarbans stood at 125 as of October 2024, up from 114 in 2018 and 106 in 2015. Tigers in the region continue to face threats from poaching, climate change and rising salinity. Read more: The Majestic Bengal Tiger: Conservation Success in the Sundarbans

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.