The oil spill in the Shela River and its adjacent areas will harm the Sundarbans little, Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan has said.
The minister made the comment while talking to reporters after visiting Chandpai Range of the mangrove forest on Saturday.
Shajahan said: "I have discussed with the experts and they said that there will be no major damage."
“It would not affect dolphins and other animals as the oil has not spread that much,” the minister further said.
Replying to a question, he said the government will decide whether it will shut the naval route of Chandpai range.
Amir Hossain Chowdhury, Sundarbans north forest department official, said the oil spill in 21 adjacent canals of the Sela is being cleaned up with 200 people on 100 boats.
Furnace oil can be found in semi solid chunks in water and hence may be collected from the rivers manually.
The canals which have been polluted the most are Joymoni, Nilphamari, Badamtola, Andarmanik, Nondatola, Mrigmari, Surjomukhi, Baijua, Laubunia, Commander, Hetalmari, Kewratola, Bosta and Camp.
The tanker, which capsized in the Sela River with 350,000 litres of furnace oil on board on Tuesday, was hauled up on Thursday.
The oil spread along 80 kilometres of the Shela River seriously threatening the ecology and wildlife of the world's largest mangrove forest.