Fire in Sundarbans' Tepar Beel area under control, probe team formed

A fire that broke out in the Tepar Beel area under the Kolomteji Camp of the Chandpai Range in the Sundarbans East Division was brought under control this afternoon (23 March).

Meanwhile, a new fire broke out in another part of the forest, a few hours after firefighters brought the fire under control in the Tepar Beel area.

Kazi Mohammad Nurul Karim, divisional forest officer of the Sundarbans East Division, said that they are actively gathering information after reports of the fire at Shaplar Bil.

"The fire intensity in this area is high, and the blaze is spreading rapidly due to the wind in the forest. To contain its spread, firebreaks are being created with the help of local villagers and forest workers. Once this is completed, efforts will begin to channel water through pipelines to extinguish the fire," he said.

Earlier in the day, a three-member committee was formed to investigate the origin of the fire.

The committee was tasked with submitting a report within seven working days, determining the cause of the fire and assessing the extent of forest damage.