Sagar Biswas :
In the wake of four fire incidents in a span of only 30 days, the Department of Forest on Thursday slapped ‘high alert’ in the Sundarbans to prevent such untoward incident in the future.
At the same time, the Forest Department has imposed restriction on the movement of fishermen, honey collectors and general people in the Changpai range and its adjacent areas with stopping issuance of pass and permit for uncertain period.
Conservator of Forest [Sundarbans] Mohammad Zahiruddin told The New Nation over telephone last night, “We’ve imposed ‘high alert’ apparently to check the fire incident. We think, such incidents could be checked if we control the movement of outsiders in the forest.”
About the fire, the Conservator said, “The Forest Department with the help of Fire Service and Civil Defence and locals has been trying to douse the fire. The flames were almost under control [at 6:00pm Thursday] due to cutting of ‘fire line’ around the spot. We’re trying to manage thick smoke that was coming out from the vast area by spreading water. We’re facing trouble due to hot temperature and strong wind. “
A devastating ‘ground fire’ broke out at Tulatola area of Compartment no.25 near Dhan Sagar Station of Changpai Range in the eastern part of the Sundarbans at about 4:00pm on Wednesday.
In this backdrop, the Ministry of Environment and Forest on Thursday formed a six-member high-powered investigation committee headed by Joint Secretary [Law] Mozahed Hossain asking it to submit report within next 10 days.
According to an official letter signed by Senior Secretary of Environment and Forest Ministry, Sheikh Md Towhidul Islam, apart from officials of Forest Department and Ministry, the inquiry committee will also comprise officials of district administration, fire service, police and coast guard.
Meanwhile, the Forest Officials have termed the fire incidents as sabotage, and categorically blamed a powerful crime syndicate for the ground fire who are trying to grab a huge water body inside the Sundarbans to catch fishes in rainy seasons.
The officials also alleged that the criminal gangs are cutting tress, netting fishes, killing animals and preying other wild lives to run their million-taka lucrative business.
“As per primary inquiry report, the crime syndicates in connivance with local hoodlums of adjacent locality are involved in igniting the fire. They became angry on us due to filing of cases with the concerned police station. So far as we know, the syndicate is also involved in different hardcore crimes, including forest robbery,” Md Saidul Islam, Divisional Forest Officer [Sundarbans] told The New Nation last night over phone.
Just after the incident of fire, the Department of Forest on Wednesday night formed a three-member probe committee headed by Assistant Conservator of Forest [Sundarbans East] to investigate the incidents of series fire in the world’s largest mangrove forest.
