Take effective initiatives to save Sundarbans

Again a cargo vessel capsized in river near Sundarbans. The cargo carrying 775 metric tonnes of coal has sunk in Harbaria area in Mongla port recently.

At least ten goods-laden lighterage ships capsized in last three years in the river near Sundarbans. The furnace oil, fertilizer, raw materials of cement, clinker, gypsum from these sunken ships spread over river and canals. As a result, the mangrove and biodiversity are at elevated threat of extinction. The river and canals are being filled with silt as no salvage operation takes place.

World heritage, the biodiversity of Sundarbans is facing serious trouble due to ongoing capsize incident of goods-laden cargo ships. The reasons behind these incidents are indentified as - ships without fitness (scrap), unskilled drivers, lack of knowledge on Sundarbans rivers and canals. Basically, accidents take place due to these scrap ships. Even, it becomes tough to run salvage operation after ship capsize as the Sundarbans and Mongla port authority has no rescue vessels.

A reports said that lighterage ship capsize incidents in Sundarbans are taking place since many years. And the capsize rate has increased in last three-four years. The Sundarbans face first great trouble in August of 1994 when an oil-laden ship capsized in Pashur River. The oil from the sunken ship spread over 20 square kilometer areas. Another lighter-cargo ship capsized near Mongla Port in July of 1998 which created disaster in Sundarbans again. An oil carrying lighter cargo sunk in Majhar point of Sundarbans on August 10 of the same year. 

Similarly, a Tanker carrying over 357,000 litres of furnace oil sank on December 9, 2014. The oil spilled over into 50 miles along the river and forest. The Sundarbans face existence crisis following the incident. At that time a UN expert team visited the mangrove forest to save biodiversity in Sundarbans.

There is an allegation that the scrap ships are carrying goods through the route in Sundarbans due to negligence of the concerned authority. The river water of the mangrove forest are being contaminated following the ship capsizes. Ultimately, the aquatic animals, fishes are becoming endangered. The loss would be minimized if the capsized vessels are salvaged in time. 

The concerned authorities have to come forward to save our world heritage site Sundarbans. Water Transport department has to take initiative so that no scrap vessels can ply in river route. Unskilled master in ships, Plying of scrap ships should be stopped. Besides, initiative to salvage the capsized ship is must.

We expect the concerned authority will take effective steps to save Sundarbans immediately for the sake of biodiversity.


risingbd/Dhaka/Apr 23, 2018/NA/Nasim