Prof ABM Mosharraf Husain, Bagerhat :
Brisk preparations are afoot to hold century old Rash Utsab at Alorkol of Dublar Char (fisherman village) in the Bay of Bengal, adjacent to Sundarban forest on November 2 to November 4 in a befitting manner under the auspices of Dubla Rash Utsab Observance Committee. According to the committee, the 3-day Rash Utsab will be ceremonially inaugurated by Sree Harsa Bardhan Sringla, High Commissioner of India in Bangladesh while it will be presided over by Narayan Chandra Cahnda, Deputy Minster of the Ministry of the Fishery affairs. Amir Hossain Amu, Minister for Industries will be present in the Rash Utsab as the chief guest.
Thousand of devotees and visitors will attend the Rash Utsab from far and near of the country by launches, trawlers and boats. A good number of foreign visitors will also attend it like the past. On the occasion a Mela (fair) will be held at Dubla where various commodities and handicrafts will be presented. Cultural function will also be held there on the occasion. This 3-day Rash Utsab will be ended on November 4 through holy bathe in the sea water.
Centering this historical Rash Utsab extra security measures were already taken by the authorities concerned in Sundarban forest and in the costal areas. This year step was also taken by the forest department like the past so that the poachers can not hunt spotted deer of Sundarban forest in the guise of pilgrims and visitors.
It is also learnt from the concerned authority that the Forest Department specified as many as 8 water routes in the forest so that the pilgrims and visitors can attend the Rash Utsab at Dubla safely.
They will get permission from the forest department to stay at Dubla for three days (from November 2 to 4) and for this each pilgrim and each visitor will have to pay the forest department Tk.70.00 and Tk.50.00 respectively as entry fee at the entry points at the time of their entrance to the forest. At the time of their stay in the forest they will not be allowed to destroy or damage the forest resources any way. Not only that but also they will not be allowed to do any work that can pollute the environment of the forest. So, they will not be allowed to carry fire arms and any explosive matter during their stay in the forest.
Mahmudul Hasan, DFO (Divisional Forest Officer), the Eastern Division of Sundarban forest disclosed to the newsmen, like the past the pilgrims and the visitors will not be permitted to collect fire wood from the forest for their cooking purposes. They will be also not allowed to carry any kind of meat. He added, 4 patrolling teams were formed consisting of police and forest department. They will patrol 4 rivers rivers-Pashur, Shyala, Bhola and Shibsha from November 1 for the safety of the pilgrims and the visitors during the Rash Utsab.
