Sundarbans reopens on Sept 1 after 3-month closure

After nearly three months of closure, the Forest Department will reopen the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest and a UNESCO world heritage site, for tourists on September 1.

The Sundarbans will be opened for domestic and foreign tourists, side by side for fishermen and bawoaly, who earn forest resources through the pass (pass permit), Burigoalini Station Officer Ziaur Rahman said on Saturday.

Forest-dependent fishermen, tour operators, launches and boatmen have already completed preparations in advance ahead of the reopening, he said.

A total of 2,970 pass permits have been renewed at four stations in the Sundarbans Satkhira range. 

The Forest Department announced a three-month ban on tourism and fishing in the Sundarbans starting from June 1.

 These three months are the breeding season for most species of fish and hence the department enforced the ban.