Sundarbans fire still out of control
A three-member probe body has been formed to find out the cause behind the fire
The forest and fire fighting authorities have not yet managed to control the fire that broke out in Dasher Bharani of the Sarankhola Range in the Sundarbans East Forest Division in Bagerhat district on Monday afternoon.
After hours of hectic efforts, the authorities called off their activities for the day in the evening and are scheduled to resume in the next morning.
Sundarban East Forest Division Sarankhola Range Station Officer Abdul Mannan said locals noticed smoke emitting from the forest and reported the issue to the forest officials in the afternoon.
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On information, two firefighting units from Sarankhola and Morrelganj rushed to the spot and tried to douse the fire. Locals also joined the firefighters to put out the fire.
The forest official also said the fire broke out due to natural causes with dry leaves and high temperatures in the forest.
Md Golam Sarwar, deputy assistant director of Bagerhat Fire Service and Civil Defence, said some 20 firefighters from Sarankhola and Morrelganj worked to put out the fire on Monday. They found a water source and the fire would be under control within a short time, he hoped.
Meanwhile, a three-member probe body has been formed to find out the cause behind the fire.
Md Joynal Abedin, assistant forest conservator of Sundarbans East Zone (Sarankhola Range), has been made the chief of the probe body. The two other members are Sarankhola Range Station Officer Abdul Mannan and Dhansagar Station Officer Md Faridul Islam.
They have been asked to submit the investigation report within seven working days.
However, Mohammad Belayet Hossain, divisional forest officer (DFO) of the Sundarbans East Zone, claimed that the fire inside the forests was under control, but some herbs were still burning.
