The Dhaka Times Desk Sundarbans is in an existential crisis. The crisis has arisen due to tanker sinking and spilling of oil into the river.
A great natural disaster has occurred in the world famous Sundarbans as oil has spread from the Shela River to the Pasur River in the Sundarbans after the tanker sank suddenly. Forest officials said that oil has already spread over 34,000 hectares of Sundarbans. Environmental experts initially feared that this could spell disaster for the world's traditional Sundarbans.
Karthik Chandra Sarkar, forest conservator of Khulna area of Sundarbans division, told the media, 'As far as we can touch, only oil is seen floating'. The forest official said that the oil is floating in the Shela River's Mrigmari, Andharmanik, Harintana, Tambulbunia, Shuarmara, Jiudhara, Nandbala, Dhansagar, Herbaria, Chandpai Station Office, Morapshur, Jangra, Karamjal Wildlife Breeding Center, Dhangmari, Ghaghadramari and Laudob areas.
The forest official also said, 'There are many beautiful trees in those areas of Sundarbans. Oil coating was also found on the leaves of trees such as Sundari, Keora, Bain and other shrubs in the forest adjacent to the Shela River. Somewhere the tidal water comes down to the forest land and sticks to the roots of the forest trees. There is a black coating on the ground due to oil spillage at various places along the Shela River.
After a while, dolphins were seen jumping in the Jayamoni area of the Shela river, which is known as their sanctuary. But after the oil spill last Tuesday afternoon, no more dolphins were seen floating, local fishermen said. Fishermen say, 'After the oil floats in this river, there is no jumping of dolphins. The oil may have died or moved away. But after a few more days, the matter will be clearly understood.
Not only that, none of the more than 300 fishermen families of Jayamoni village of Chila Union of Mongla Upazila of Bagerhat, adjacent to the Sundarbans, went down to fish in the river after Tuesday. The fishermen of that area say, 'Because of the oil, we can't get into the water. As soon as you go down to the river, the oil gets stuck in the body and the net. Our fishing is now completely stopped.'
Experts are expressing fear of environmental disaster due to oil spill. They think, 'due to this oil, the Sundarbans plants may slowly dry up and die. There are at least three hundred species of fish in the rivers and canals of the Sundarbans. Some of the smaller species of fish have already started dying. Among these fish are pangas and parshe fish of the river.
Meanwhile, the government is trying to get rid of oil. It is reported that attention is being paid to ensure that there is no damage to the Sundarbans due to oil. According to the latest news, the villagers have come forward to remove the oil.
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