Ahsanul Amin George, Khulna :
The forest guards of the Sundarbans have been living sub-human lives for a long time. No initiative was taken even in 24 years regarding their improvement of lives. They are under privileged in all sectors.
Concerned sources said, the forest guards ,engaged for protecting the largest mangrove of the world The Sundarbans which is also the world heritage site, are not getting risk allowances, rationing allowances and remote allowances. Their salary scales are in the last grade of the pay scale. They are being compelled to lead sub-human lives as well. Sometimes, they have to deprive of getting government holidays as they serve at dark forest. If any guard dies even inside the forest naturally or by the attacks of wild animals, they do not get any allowances by the government.
On condition of anonymity, a forest guard of Bhomorkhali patrol outpost of Khulna Range of the Sundarbans told this correspondent that they have not been evaluated though they are engaged for protecting the largest mangrove in the world by keeping bate of lives. No required vehicles are available in the forest, or no network coverage is available of any mobile phone at some places in the deep forest. They have to work by fighting with some ferocious wild animals like tigers and crocodiles. They do not get suitable residential accommodations in the forest. Even they do not get praising for their good deeds, let alone risk or remote allowances, he added.
Forest division sources said, the total area of the Sundarbans is around 6017 kilometers, its land area is around 4143 squire kms and water area is around 2874 squire kms, the Sundarbans is divided into two parts- the East division and the West division, there are four ranges of the Sundarbans. There are more than one hundred rivers and canals in the Sundarbans.
There are 76 forest camps in the Sundarbans, but only 178 forest guards have been doing their duties which is insufficient. Due to shortage of manpower and logistics, the forest guards can not perform their duties well.
Another forest guard said, the forest guards of the Sundarbans do not get risk or remote allowances whereas the members of BGB, Coast guard, Navy, Police, Rab and Army get the allowances, even their families get contributions after the demise of the above-mentioned forces except the forest guards who serve in the Sundarbans though they fight not only with wild animals but also with the forest robbers by taking risk of lives.
It is mentionable in this connection that at least 12 forest guards were killed in the last two decades due to natural disasters, attack by the wild animals and forest robbers and lack of proper treatment.
Syed Oliar Rahman, President of Bangladesh Forest Guards Welfare Society (West Zone) said, several times applications were submitted to the Ministry of forest for salvation of their problems, but no step was taken yet in this regard.
Md. Sayeedul Islam, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the West division of the Sundarbans said, applications were given to the higher authorities of the Ministry of Forest regarding the demands of the staffs of the Sundarbans..
