How one forest officer is fighting poachers in the Sundarbans

Our conversation with Md Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, currently the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Eastern Sundarbans, began with a simple realisation. 

"If the forest thrives, wildlife thrives. And the forest thrives when the people around it are conscious and responsible."

In 2001, the Sundarbans was divided into two administrative zones — Western and Eastern divisions. The Eastern division comprises two field ranges, Chandpai and Sharankhola.

Over the past eight months of Rezaul ’s tenure, a total of 328 operations were conducted inside and around the forest. Cases were filed against 330 individuals, of whom 311 were arrested. Photos: Courtesy

The Sundarbans East Division covers the upazilas of Mongla, Sharankhola, Morrelganj and Rampal in Bagerhat district, along with parts of Dacope upazila in Khulna. Its headquarters is located in Bagerhat Sadar. 

As DFO, Rezaul Karim Chowdhury is the chief administrative authority of the division. He has served in the Sundarbans twice in two separate tenures.

He first came to the Sundarbans in 2004 as an Assistant Conservator of Forests. Compared to that time, he now feels that the forest's wildlife is facing far greater threats. 

On 4 January this year, a tiger was caught in a deer trap set along the forest edge near Sharkir Khal in Mongla. 

Poachers lay four main types of traps deep inside the forest: mala, chhitka, hata and gola. Among them, the mala trap is the most commonly used. In this method, a rope is tied between two distant trees, and multiple nooses are set along it like a garland. The tiger, however, was caught in a chhitka trap, which is circular in shape and set individually. The gola trap is placed slightly above ground level so that a deer's neck gets caught, while the hata trap is laid on the ground to ensnare the animal's legs.

Rezaul explained, "These traps are usually made from nylon thread or rope. Sometimes, instead of rope or thread, thin GI wire is also used. Because a tiger is extremely powerful, the more it struggles to break free, the deeper the nylon rope cuts into its muscles. 

"In 2012, a three-legged tiger was found in the Khulna range of the Sundarbans; one of its legs had likely been severed by a deer trap. Although tigers sometimes manage to tear themselves free from such traps, their bodies are left badly injured. In 2014, one such tiger that had broken free from a trap was later killed," he added.

Tiger numbers rising amid persistent poaching 

Deer poaching harms tigers in two ways. On the one hand, it creates a shortage of prey; on the other, it increases the risk of death for the tigers themselves. 

The tiger's primary prey in the Sundarbans is the spotted deer. It also feeds on barking deer and wild boar. Ideally, there should be around 500 deer for every tiger in the forest. A tiger requires 50 to 60 kilograms of meat per week — roughly equivalent to at least one fully grown deer.

Although the number of tigers has increased in recent years, standing at around 125 now, the dominance of poachers remains largely unchanged. 

In the eastern Sundarbans, traps are most frequently set near boundary camps in Dacope upazila, such as Khagrabari, Jongra and Mara Pashur. 

In Sharankhola upazila, deer poachers often cross the Baleshwar River from Patharghata in Barguna to hunt in areas like Kokilmoni, Shelar Char, Katka, and Kochikhali.

Rezaul noted that selling deer meat is a livelihood for many people in the region. They have been engaged in this practice for generations. Tourists, government and private-sector employees, politicians and others are among its consumers. Deer meat is also in demand in Sundarbans-adjacent communities for entertaining guests.

Drones join the smart patrol team 

After returning to the Sundarbans for his second tenure in 2025, Rezaul prioritised strengthening foot patrol operations deep inside the forest. 

Previously, patrols were conducted mainly by boats along canals or canal banks. Continuous foot patrols, combined with parallel-line search operations to remove traps, have significantly increased the recovery of traps from the forest interior.

Patrol teams enter the forest every alternate day, spending time searching for traps. From the day after he assumed his post, Rezaul began holding a series of staff meetings to intensify efforts to stop the hunting of deer and other wildlife in the Sundarbans. 

The eastern Sundarbans has 43 forest camps, including Katka, Kochikhali, Shelar Char, Kokilmoni, Jongra, Karamjal, Mara Pashur and Khagrabari.

Rezaul said, "The Sundarbans is, above all, a place of work. For those who are genuinely committed to forest conservation and wildlife research, it is nothing short of a paradise. But for many people in the region, the forest and wildlife have become a means of livelihood."

In the pursuit of quick profits from fishing, some unscrupulous middlemen even supply poison to fishermen. As a result, fish, fry, larvae, crabs and mud eels all perish indiscriminately. 

To curb such practices, smart patrolling has been intensified. Smart teams are equipped with data-entry devices and GPS trackers, and drones have recently been added to their operations. This has significantly enhanced the ability to detect illegal boats, trawlers and traps across the forest.

Drones have also made it possible to monitor fishing activities with precision, even during restricted seasons, in canals and rivers deep inside the forest. 

During the last monsoon, all illegal shrimp-drying huts inside the forest were demolished with the assistance of drones. The use of drones has reduced both time and fuel costs.

A childhood rooted in love for animals 

Rezaul's affection for animals began in childhood. He grew up raising dogs, cats, ducks, chickens and pigeons. Their family home is in Sirajganj. The eldest of three siblings, he was born to parents who were both government employees.

After completing his Higher Secondary Certificate, he secured admission to the Department of Forestry at Chittagong University. There, his understanding of forests and wildlife deepened. He studied under foreign faculty members and learned the principles of forest management and wildlife conservation. 

Field trips were an integral part of the curriculum, and under the guidance of his teachers, he travelled with classmates to forests across the country—from the Sundarbans and Madhupur to Sylhet, Mymensingh, Lawachara, Rajshahi and the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

After graduating in 1993, he worked briefly as a programme organiser in BRAC's agroforestry division. In 1994, he joined the Bangladesh Forest Department as an Assistant Conservator of Forests, entering the service as a first-class officer. His first posting was in the coastal region of Patuakhali.

Following independence, Bangladesh began implementing large-scale afforestation programmes along its 720-kilometre coastline, aimed at creating a protective "green belt." Initially, the pace of this artificial forestation was slow. 

However, the devastating cyclone of 1991, which claimed around 300,000 lives in coastal areas, underscored the urgency of the green belt initiative and accelerated its implementation severalfold.

The results were striking: during Cyclone Sidr in 2007 and Cyclone Aila in 2009, coastal regions such as Noakhali, Bhola, Patuakhali, Khulna and Bagerhat witnessed minimal loss of life. The Sundarbans itself played a crucial role in protecting people and property from the impacts of Sidr and Aila.

While working in the civil service, he completed his master's degree from Khulna University in 2009, and later earned an MPhil from Chittagong University in 2013.

Hazarikhil: A special forest 

In artificial afforestation, trees are planted in orderly rows, which helps reduce the impact of cyclones. These forests also serve as habitats for wildlife. Various species settle near the base of the trees—such as jungle fowl, monitor lizards, mongooses and tailorbirds—while birds of prey like kites, eagles and vultures occupy the upper canopy.

"All animals seek cover and shelter for their own safety—even tigers," Rezaul said. "Tigers, too, move away from areas where human presence is high. Forests therefore function as safe havens for wildlife. Coastal forests not only protect against cyclones but also ensure the safety of wild animals."

After joining the Forest Department, Rezaul spent six years in coastal forest regions, followed by six months in Cox's Bazar. The species composition of coastal forests varies depending on salinity levels: for instance, keora trees dominate in Patuakhali, while bain thrives in Maheshkhali, Teknaf and Cox's Bazar. After Cox's Bazar, he worked in Chattogram for three years.

In his view, the Hazarikhil Wildlife Sanctuary in Fatikchhari is a special forest due to its rich biodiversity. The sanctuary is home to rare wild goats, along with hoolock gibbons, woodpeckers, bears and jungle fowl.

He later spent nearly two years in the Sundarbans before being posted to Rangamati. Subsequently, he served in the Chattogram Management Planning Division and in Cox's Bazar. While working in the Mymensingh Forest Division, he joined the IUCN. After IUCN, he worked for nearly four years with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as a manager in wildlife and ecosystem management.

Later, the government appointed him to the Sylhet Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Division. Based at its headquarters in Moulvibazar, he worked on wildlife conservation across Sylhet, Habiganj and Sunamganj. 

In recognition of his contributions to wildlife conservation, the government awarded him the country's highest honour in wildlife conservation in 2022—the National Award for Wildlife Conservation (then known as the Bangabandhu Award).

The Sylhet zone is unique in both geographical and biological diversity. It features rolling hills as well as wetlands, resulting in a rich variety of wildlife across different landscapes. Some of the key protected forests in the region include Lawachara, Adampur, Barshijora, Latitila, Rema-Kalenga and Rajkandi.

A cobra beneath the straw 

"Sylhet's forests are relatively easy to navigate," Rezaul said. "That makes it easier to build a relationship with wildlife. The local people are also cooperative and compassionate towards animals. Journalists there are extremely supportive as well. Disguised in plain clothes, they have joined us in recovering illegal wildlife meat from hotels and stayed with us through legal proceedings."

In Moulvibazar, his team carried out numerous rescue operations, some of which have remained etched in memory. 

On one occasion, a wild boar entered a house, killing goats and chickens. 

The homeowner locked the animal inside from outside and informed the authorities. The team arrived promptly, tranquilised the boar and released it back into the forest. The homeowner was astonished to see that neither the animal was killed nor his family harmed. "He kept blessing us," Rezaul recalled.

Another time, a homeowner discovered cobra eggs hidden beneath straw in a cowshed. Instead of killing the snake or destroying the eggs, he informed the Forest Department. Rezaul 's colleagues rushed to the site and collected the eggs. About a month later, when the eggs hatched, the hatchlings were released into the Lawachara forest.

Rezaul recounted another remarkable incident involving a fishing cat. The animal was pregnant when it got caught in a trap. Unsure of what to do, the homeowner alerted the Forest Department. The team first secured the animal and ensured its safety. 

One by one, it gave birth to three kittens. After opening the trap, they allowed the mother to escape and cleared the area of onlookers. People were anxious about whether the mother would return for her young. 

"From experience, we knew that a mother never strays far from her offspring," he said. As dusk fell and darkness began to settle, the mother returned and carried each of her three kittens to a safer place.

Rezaul has rarely taken breaks from his academic pursuit of forest management and wildlife conservation. He completed a postgraduate diploma in wildlife management from the Wildlife Institute of India in Dehradun. His experience in India left a deep impression on him. He observed advanced wildlife conservation systems across 13 states and learned extensively from them.

India has vast stretches of open land and large national parks. Kanha National Park alone spans more than 900 square kilometres, while Kaziranga National Park covers nearly 1,000 square kilometres. 

There are several such large national parks in the country. India is home to tigers, rhinos and even lions. Public awareness of wildlife conservation is also higher there: very few people consume wildlife meat, and around 25 percent of the population is vegetarian.

Nepal's Chitwan and Bardia national parks are also vast and rich in biodiversity. Rezaul learned much from these experiences and has sought to apply those lessons back home.

Is poverty the main obstacle to public awareness? When asked, Rezaul disagreed. "I don't think so. The poverty rate in Bangladesh and India is almost similar. But here, people have long been trapped in misconceptions about wildlife. 

For generations, local communities have treated wildlife hunting as a profession. So poverty is not the core problem—habit and superstition are. What we need is to involve local people more deeply in forest protection. They must understand that their role in conservation is essential, and that without forests, they themselves will be at risk."

The strange resilience of the Sundarbans 

During Cyclone Sidr, even the leaves of most trees in the Sundarbans were blown away. At the time, some experts feared that the forest would never return to its former state. Yet, within a year, the forest had regained its vitality. The Sundarbans is an unusually resilient ecosystem.

After returning to the Sundarbans in 2025, Rezaul took another significant step: restoring order to the Rash Mela pilgrimage. Every year, on Rash Purnima, a massive gathering takes place on Dubla Char, a sandy island at the southernmost edge of the forest, where the sea meets the land. Although the event is officially meant for followers of a particular faith, people of other religions also join in, often bypassing forest department restrictions.

In the past, countless traps were set across the forest during this period. With little control in place, pilgrims freely launched boats day and night, entered canals along the Pashur River, set traps, travelled to Dubla, and returned home with venison. 

Rezaul introduced strict regulations: on the day before the fair, all boats must gather at designated points in the Chandpai Range and Dhangmari. Under the escort of forest guards, the boats would depart at 8am, reach Alorkol before evening, and return following the same controlled procedure. As a result of this system, no deer were poached in the forest in 2025.

Forest guards under strain 

Over the past eight months of Rezaul 's tenure in the Sundarbans, a total of 328 operations were conducted inside and around the forest. Cases were filed against 330 individuals, of whom 311 were arrested. 

Authorities seized 242 kilograms of venison, 61,010 feet of mala traps, 380 chhitka traps, 2,000 hata traps, 90 bottles of poison, 699 kilograms of poisoned fish, 816 kilograms of crabs, and 351 trawlers and boats.

Encouragingly, timber theft in the Sundarbans has declined sharply in recent times. Rezaul attributed this to strict restrictions on timber sales. He also noted that the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Ordinance, 2026, issued on 7 January this year, could significantly reduce wildlife poaching if properly enforced.

However, he believes that risk allowances for forest personnel must be increased. He also stressed the need for ration facilities for forest workers. 

The number of staff in the forest department remains far below requirements, with one-third of approved posts currently vacant. Recently, boatmen have been recruited through outsourcing, leaving them in a state of uncertainty, as there is no guarantee of permanent government employment. They are also not authorised to carry firearms.

While continuing his service, Rezaul is currently pursuing a PhD, focusing on resolving human–fishing cat conflict in the haor region of northeastern Bangladesh.

He is happy with life in the forest and remains optimistic about better days ahead for the Sundarbans.