Honey collection has begun from the Sundarbans amid tight security from the very beginning of this month since April 1, 2019. Mowals (Honey collectors) started honey collecting by taking risks of the attacks by tigers and pirates. Of course, the forest division has taken effective security measures for the Mowals, sources said.
Forest division sources said, Mowals has started collecting honey from April 1, 2019 which will be continued up to June 30.
Mowals have gone to the Sundarbans after taking loan at high interest from the ‘Mohajons'( Money lenders) for collecting honey.
The West division of the Sundarbans sources said, this year the target of collecting honey from the Sundarbans was fixed 2250 quintals and 556 quintals of wax.
Some Mowals said, Fears of pirates are more than that of tigers or crocodiles, because they have to face with the pirates whenever they enter into the Sundarbans. Different forest robber gangs realize extortion from them.
Sources of forest division of Khulna Range of the Sundarbans said, with a view to make assurance of the Mowals, Members coastguard and forest guards were deployed in the mean time.
On the other hand, sources said, Mowals have been collecting honey and wax from the Sundarbans in ancient system and as such most of the bees die for fire.
Every year, from the month April 1 to June 30, with the permission of the forest division, Bawalis collect honey and wax from four ranges of the Sundarbans. They have to pay taka 200 for per mounds of honey and taka 300 for per mounds of wax to the authorities of the forest division.
Kawsar Ahmed, resident of Kalagachhia village, adjacent to the Sundarbans in Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira district said, Mowals families of 20 upazilas of coastal districts Khulna, Bagerhat and Satkhira conduct their livelihood by collecting honey and wax from Sundarbans taking risks of wild animals including tigers and crocodiles and also the risk of attacking by the forest robbers.
The Mowals lend money from the Mohajons (Money lenders) at high interest. They enter into the deep forest in collaborating with 7 to 8 Mowals, one experienced Mowal is engaged for looking for honey combs. When they find hives, they collect honey and wax by creating smoke and cutting with sharp weapons like sickles and this is the ancient system of honey collection for which generating of bees are decreasing gradually.
Bablu Zoardar, an NGO activist said, due to collecting honey by creating pressure, quality of honey becomes substandard.
Honey is not only used in Bangladesh, but also it exports at abroad by which Bangladesh earn a lot of foreign exchange.
Mowals should be trained well, Bablu Zoardar thinks.
Joynal Gazi, a Mowal said, We enter into the Sundarbans for collecting honey and wax after taking taka at high interest from the Mohajons (Money lenders), but it is a matter of great regret that we can’t be benefited ultimately as we have to expense more than that of our expectation.
Mujibar Rahman, another honey collector has shown outstanding performance in respect of honey collecting, said Mowal (Honey collector) Barek Gazi.
Forest division sources said, tight security measures was taken centering honey collection from the Sundarbans.
The sources further said, Honey collectors took pass for 15 days for the first time and thereafter new pass have to collect for next honey collection from the Sundarbans.
