Tourist vessels have finally resumed their journeys towards the Sundarbans after overcoming a fuel crisis triggered by ongoing tensions between Iran and Israel in the Middle East.
The sharp rise in fuel prices and disruptions in supply had cast uncertainty over travel plans for tourists. However, the situation has now been resolved through special efforts by vessel owners, allowing trips to proceed as scheduled.
A total of 42 vessels have been booked for Sundarbans tours during the Eid-ul-Fitr long holiday, with around 1,600 tourists expected to take part in the trips.
Despite earlier concerns over a severe fuel oil shortage, five vessels set off for the Sundarbans on 22 March.The remaining 37 vessels are scheduled to depart from Monday. Most of the ships will leave from Khulna, while three vessels will depart from Mongla.
The three-day tour packages will take visitors to several popular destinations inside the Sundarbans, including Karamjal, Herbaria, Kachikhali, Andharamanik, Tiger Hill, and Hiron Point.
Tour operators expect a smooth operation as the holiday rush continues, with authorities monitoring vessel movement and safety arrangements.
Mazharul Islam Kochi, joint general secretary of the Tour Operators Association of Sundarbans (TOAS), has said that, amid the prevailing global situation, it has become extremely difficult to procure fuel oil.
He noted that vessel owners are now having to purchase diesel at an additional cost of Tk 4 per litre, significantly increasing operational expenses. However, he added that despite the rising costs, no additional financial burden has been passed on to tourists.
He further stated that, under the current circumstances, there is virtually no prospect of profit for ship owners operating these tourism services.
Tourist vessel businessman Md Sohag Molla said that despite an acute shortage of fuel, operations were maintained by procuring fuel at inflated prices to ensure uninterrupted services for foreign tourists.
MV Utsav vessel owner Wahidur Rahman said, “We were able to depart on schedule due to the availability of fuel. However, if this fuel crisis continues, the Sundarbans tourism sector could face significant risks in the future.”
The ongoing Iran–Israel tensions had previously disrupted tourism operations linked to the Sundarbans, raising concerns over fuel availability and travel continuity during the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr season.
In the Khulna region, a total of 70 tourist vessels operate services to the Sundarbans. Of these, 42 vessels had already received advance bookings for the Eid period. However, a fuel shortage triggered uncertainty among operators, casting doubt on whether scheduled trips could be conducted as planned.
Following the resumption of fuel supply and restoration of normal operations, that uncertainty has now eased. Vessel operat