Clicky
National

Sundarbans reopening to tourists after 7 months


Published : 28 Oct 2020 08:22 PM | Updated : 29 Oct 2020 03:48 AM

Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, is set to reopen for tourists on November 1 following a seven-month closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The decision of Forest Department in this regard were informed to the department at Khulna, Bagerhat, Mongla and Satkhira. 

Md Amir Hossain Chowdhury, Chief Conservator of Forests of the Forest Department, said that they have decided to open the Sundarbans complying with health guidelines. A limited number of tourists will be allowed to visit the Sundarbans, he added. 

A meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry was held on October 19 and discussed ways to reopen the Sundarbans for tourists. The meeting decided to reopen the Sundarbans ahead of the upcoming tourist season.

The Forest Department on March 19 announced a temporary ban on tourist movement and boat plying all over the Sundarbans to check the spread of coronavirus.

According to the Forest Department, over 45,000 tourists visit nine tourist areas in the Sundarbans every day during the tourist season from November to March.

According to the decision, the tour operators, however, will not be allowed to carry more than 50 tourists at a time.  Meanwhile, the tour operators have already started pre-booking spots for their Sundarbans tours.

Moinul Islam Jamaddar, president of Tour Operators Association of the Sundarbans, welcomed the decision of the government. He said that that many employees of around 50 ships owned by 70 Sundarbans-based tour companies have remained unemployed for months following Covid-19 outbreak. They have been facing an extreme financial crisis.