Local communities, including fishermen, Bawal (wood collectors), and Mowal (honey collectors), who rely on the Sundarbans for their livelihoods, are concerned about a three-month ban on all activities in the forest starting today (June 01, 2024). These communities returned home a few weeks ago due to the cyclonic storm Remal, and the forest department has since restricted re-entry into the Sundarbans. With the ban in place, they face a period without income. Forest Dept declares Sundarbans closed to visitors for 3 months The local administration has assured the affected communities of food assistance through the Fisheries Department. Fishermen have expressed their worries, stating their families depend on collecting fish, crabs, and honey in the Sundarbans. With their limited catch prior to returning home due to the storm, many have no savings to sustain them through the ban period. The three-month ban on fishing and tourism in the Sundarbans, effective from June 1 to August 31, aims to provide a safe breeding environment for fish and wild animals. The movement of all vessels, including boats and fishing trawlers, is prohibited, along with the entry of fishermen and honey collectors. Local and foreign tourists are also barred from entering the forest during this time. AKM Iqbal Hossain Chowdhury, Assistant Forest Conservator of the West Sundarbans, explained that June to August is the primary breeding season for fish in the region's rivers and canals. Cyclone Remal: 15 more dead deer recovered from Sundarbans During these three months, most fish release eggs, and it is also the breeding season for many wild animals. Restricting access helps protect biodiversity and wildlife, he said. The damage caused by Cyclone Remal to the forest’s biodiversity and wildlife is expected to recover more quickly with the ban in place. Abu Naser Mohsin Hossain, a forest official of the Sundarbans West Division, confirmed that entry into the Sundarbans will resume on September 1. Since 2019, the Integrated Resource Management Plan (IRMP) has recommended closing the Sundarbans' rivers and canals to fishing from July 1 to August 31 annually. In 2021, this restriction was extended to three months, starting June 1, in coordination with the Fisheries Department. The Sundarbans is home to about 289 species of animals, including 42 species of mammals, 35 species of reptiles, 8 species of amphibians, and 219 species of aquatic animals. Cyclone Remal: Animal death toll in Sundarbans rises to 100 If boats ply the rivers and canals, it disrupts the fish during their egg-laying period, so all types of boats are banned, explained Mihir Kumar Doe, Khulna Forest Conservator. He noted that this year's ban follows the same pattern as previous years. The local communities remain hopeful that the promised assistance will help them navigate through this challenging period.

Ten fishermen were jailed by a mobile court for a year in Chandpur on Thursday for catching hilsa flouting the ongoing fishing ban. The mobile court led by Chandpur Sadar Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Helal Uddin Chowdhury handed down the verdict. Read: Kitchen markets in Dhaka take the heat from 22-day Hilsa ban Chandpur Sadar Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Sudip Bhattacharya said they detained the fishermen conducting a drive in the  Meghna River in the early hours of Thursday. They also seized two trawlers and one lakh meters of banned current nets. The seized nets were destroyed by setting fire and the two trawlers were kept under the custody of the Coast Guard and the Fisheries Department, the officer said. Read: Hilsa ban: 5 injured in attack during drive in Bhola The 22-day Hilsa ban took effect on Sunday midnight aimed at ensuring the safe spawning of the popular fish during its peak breeding period. The ban will remain in place till October 25. Fisheries Department, upazila and district administrations, police and coast guard personnel will carry out regular drives to make sure that the ban is implemented strictly.

The fisheries and livestock ministry has upgraded the salary scale of 234 fisheries department employees of six categories.