Local communities, including fishermen, wood and honey collectors, who depend on the Sundarbans for their livelihoods, are concerned about a three-month ban on all activities in the forest starting Saturday.
Residents reported returning from the forest to their localities just before Cyclone Remal struck Bangladesh. Following the cyclone, the forest department prohibited further entry into the forest.
Approximately 50,000 people in the Sundarbans’ Satkhira range area are particularly affected, as their livelihoods depend on access to the forest, said Satkhira Range Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) AKM Iqbal Hossain Chowdhury.
This restriction leaves them without a means of earning a living during this period.
Abul Kashem, a fish trader in the Gabura union, expressed his concerns, stating that if fishing is halted for three months, the fishermen in the area will not be able to feed their families.
Raisuddin, a resident of the Chadnimukha area in Gabura union, Satkhira, said: "Our family’s livelihood depends on fishing. A week ago, I returned home from the forest after hearing the storm signal. I didn't catch much fish.”
He also mentioned that he lacked the financial means to support his family during this period.
To protect the wildlife and biodiversity of the Sundarbans, the Forest Department announced a three-month ban on the entry of visitors to the forest, which was heavily impacted by Cyclone Remal last week.
This restriction applies to tourists as well as people who rely on the forest for their livelihoods.
Khulna Forest Conservator Mihir Kumar Doe explained that boats disrupt fish during their egg-laying period, which is why all types of boats are banned, noting that this year's ban follows the same pattern as previous years.
The Sundarbans is home to about 289 species of animals, including 42 species of mammals, 35 species of reptiles, eight species of amphibians, and 219 species of aquatic animals.