UNDP Bangladesh Country Director Pauline Tamesis has said this accident once again highlights the need for a complete ban on the movement of all commercial vessels through the Sundarbans.
Expressing concern over the capsize of an oil tanker, she said this in a statement on Thursday.
“Together with the government of Bangladesh and other stakeholders, UNDP Bangladesh is concerned about the recent developments in the Sundarbans following the oil spill,” she said.
UNDP, however, appreciated the decision taken by the government of temporary shutting down of the Shale river route to all modes of vessels as reported in the newspapers.
“This, I believe, will contribute positively to the restoration efforts.”
“Global experience shows that this kind of incident has long term environmental consequences and it requires coordinated multisectoral efforts to restore the affected areas,” she cited.
Pauline Tamesis said it may also affect the people dependent on the water bodies around the forest.
“We’re consulting with government, national and international partners to explore ways we can help government to minimise the damage to and rehabilitate this globally significant natural heritage,” she added.
A vessel with over 3,50,000 litres of furnace oil capsized in Sela River Tuesday morning. The oil spread along 20 kilometres of the Sela River seriously threatening the delicate ecology which is also home to the Royal Bengal Tiger.
The Sela River is known as a sanctuary for sweet-water Irawaddy and brackish-water Ganges dolphins, which are likely to be the first victims of the oil spill.
