According to the latest census, there are 114 tigers in Sundarbans mangrove forest, said Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Shahab Uddin. The minister made this claim responding to a query from treasury bench lawmaker Didarul Alam of Chattogram-4 in the Jatiya Sangsad in the capital on Monday.  “The tiger census conducted camera trapping in 2015 found a total of 106 tigers. The number of tigers stands at 114 as per the latest census completed in 2018,” said the minister.  Apart from this, there are 1,000,00-150,000 deer,  165-200 crocodiles and 40,000-50,000 monkeys in the mangrove forest.  At present, country’s total forest area is around 14.10 percent. Trees cover 22.37 percent of the total forest area, he said while responding to another query from treasury bench lawmaker Benjir Ahmed of Dhaka-20.   Under the social aforestation, the forest minister said some 1,02,339.28 hectares wood lot and block garden have been created and 76,752.366 kilometers(km) steep garden have also been created during the fiscal year between 1980-81 and 2020-21. Source: BSS AH

To contain the coronavirus infection the Forest Department has imposed ban against tourist entry to the Sundarbans abiding by the government directions. The ban will be effective till April 15. In this regard, Sultan Ahmed, Station Officer of Burigoalini under Satkhira range of the Sundarbans said, a ban has been imposed against tourist entry till April 15 to prevent the coronavirus infection. So, everyone is requested for not coming to visit the Sundarbans until April 15. Earlier, in a notice of fisheries and livestock ministry it was said that Bangladesh National Zoo at Mirpur in Dhaka and Rangpur Zoo will remain closed for the visitors with effect from Friday (April 2). AH  

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Friday warned that anybody attempting to commit any robbery in the Sundarbans will be published as the government will do everything to keep the mangrove forest safe.   He was speaking at a program at Sheikh Helaluddin Stadium in Bagerhat, celebrating one year since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina declared the Sundarbans free of robbers.   The Sundarbans was a dangerous place for tourists and those dependent on it, but it has been made free of robbers and criminal gangs, he said.   “The Sundarbans is a safe zone now. Thousands of tourists go sightseeing while those dependent on the forest are working without fear [of robbers],” the minister said.   Prime Minister Hasina on November 1 last year, declared the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, free of criminal gangs after the last remaining pirate gangs laid down arms.   At that time, 58 pirates surrendered before the Home Minister in Bagerhat.   The robbers who are still trying to commit robberies must be punished, the minister said.   “We’ve information about all the activities here and everyone will be brought to justice,” he said. “It’s our promise to keep the Sundarbans safe.”   The Home Minister also cautioned the people who patronize robbers.   He said cases, except rape and murder, against criminal gangs, who had surrendered and reintegrated into society, will be dissolved gradually.   Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) said it has so far conducted 246 successful drives and arrested 586 criminals of various gangs in the Sundarbans. It seized 780 firearms and 41,955 bullets while 163 pirates were killed in gunfights.   Rab also recovered nine Royal Bengal Tiger cubs, 23 tiger hides, 29 deer, 129 deer hides and various wild animals during the drives.   A taskforce was established in 2012 with Rab, police, Coast Guard, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Forest Department. The Rab Director General was the chief coordinator of the taskforce.   Thirty-two former chiefs of criminal gangs and 328 members surrendered between May 31, 2016 and November 1, 2018. And they have been reintegrated into the society. Source: UNB AH

27 members of three forest robber gangs from Sundarbans surrendered to Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal along with their arms and ammunition at Swadhinata Udyan in Bagerhat district town on Sunday. Reports UNB.   Ten members of ‘Don Bahini’, eight from ‘Sumon Bahini’ and nine from ‘Jahangir Bahini’ surrendered to the Home Minister in the afternoon. The gang members deposited 28 firearms and huge amount of ammunitions. The forest robbers will be provided with proper assistance for their rehabilitation, said the Home Minister during the surrender program. AH