After three months of closure, the Forest Department is reopening the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for tourists and fishermen from Friday (September 1).
To ensure safe breeding space for the fish and wild animals, the Forest Department imposed a ban on fishing and fish harvesting in the rivers and canals of the forest from June 1 to August 31. Visitors were also barred from entering the Sundarbans during this period.
Divisional forest officer Mohammad Belayet Hossain said tourists can visit different spots of the Sundarbans like Karamjal, Kachikhali, Harbaria, Hiron Point, Dubla, Nil Kalam, etc. through launch, tour boats, trawlers, and other water vehicles from September 1 after the withdrawal of the restriction.
At the same time, foresters can also enter the Sundarbans from that day with a pass permit to extract the forest resources.
The Forest Department and tour operators expect that many a number of tourists will gather there due to reduced rainfall and the withdrawal of the restriction after a long time. For instance, tour operators, boatmen, and fishermen depended on the forest have prepared in advance to enter the Sundarbans.