SUNDARBAN

WELCOME TO BANGLADESH AND VISIT SUNDARBANS

land of Royal Bengal Tiger

The Sundarbans are the largest littoral mangrove belt in the world, stretching 80km into the Bangladesh hinterland from the coast. The forests are not just mangrove swamps though, they include some of the last remaining stands of mighty jungles which once covered the Gangetic  plain. The Sundarbans  cover an area of 38,500 sq km, of which about one-third is covered in water. Since 1966 the Sundarbans have been a wildlife sanctuary, and it is estimated that there are now 400 Royal Bengal tigers and about 30,000 spotted deer in the area.

Sundarbans is home to may different species of birds, mammals, insects, reptiles and fishes. Over 120 species of fish and over 260 species of birds have been recorded in the Sundarbans. The Gangetic River Dolphin (Platanista gangeticus) is common in the rivers. No less than 50 species of reptiles and eight species of amphibians are known to occur. The Sundarbans now support the only population of the Estuarine, or Salt Water Crocodile (Crocodylus parasus) in Bangladesh, and that population is estimated at less than two hundred individuals.

Here land and water meet in many novel fashions, Wildlife presents many a spectacle. No wonder, you may come across a Royal Bengal Tiger swimming across the streams or the crocodiles basking on the river banks. Withe the approach of the evening herds of deer make for the darking glades where boisterous monkeys shower Keora leaves from above for sumptuous meal for the former. For the botanist, the lover of nature, the poet and the painter this land provides a variety of wonder for which they all crave.

It's beauty lies in its unique natural surrounding. Thousands of meandering streams, creeks, rivers and estuaries have enhanced its charm. Sundarbans meaning beautiful forest is the natural habitat of the world famous Royal Bengal Tiger, spotted deer, crocodiles, jungle fowl, wild boar, lizards, theses monkey and an innumerable variety of beautiful birds. Migratory flock of Siberian ducks flying over thousands of sail boats loaded with timber, golpata (round-leaf), fuel wood, honey, shell and fish further add to the serene natural beauty of the Sundarbans.

This is indeed a land for the spportsmen, the anglers and the photographers with its abundance of game, big and small, crocodile, wild boar, deer, pythons, wild-birds and above all the Royal Bengal Tiger, cunning, ruthless and yet majestic and graceful. For the less adventurously inclined, there are ducks and snipes, herons and coots, yellow-lags and sandpipers. It is also the land for the ordinary holiday makers who desire to rest or wander around at will to refresh their mind and feast their eyes with the rish treasure that nature has no fondly bestowed.

General information :

Area : Nearly 2400 sq. miles or 6000 sq. km

Nearly 2400 sq. miles or 6000 sq. km.

Forest limits : North-Bagerhat, Khulna and Satkhira districts : South-Bay of Bengal; East-Baleswar (or Haringhata) river, Perojpur, Barisal district and West-Raimangal and Hariabhanga rivers which partially form Bangladesh boundary with West Bengal in India.

Main attractions : Wildlife photography including photography of the famous Royal Begal Tiger, wildlife viewing, boating inside the forest will call recordings, nature study, meeting fishermen, wood-cutters and honey-collectors, peace and tranquility  in the wilderness, seeing the world's largest mangrove forest and the riverine beauty.

Famous Spots : Hiron point (Nilkamal) for tiger, deer, monkey, crocodiles, birds and natural beauty. Katka for deer, tiger, crocodiles, varieties of birds and monkey, morning evening symphony of wild fowls. Vast expanse of grassy meadows running from Katka to Kachikhali (Tiger Point) provide opportunities for wild tracking. Tin Kona Island or tiger and deer. Dublar char (Island) for fishermen. It is a beutiful island shere herds of spotted deer are often seen to graze.

Means of Communication : Water transport is the only means of communicati9n for visiting the Sundarbans from Khulna or Mongla Port. Private motor launch, speed boats, country boats as well as mechanised vessel of Mongla Port Authority might be hired for the purpose. From Dhaka visitors may travel by air, road or rocket steamer to Khulna- the gateway to the Sundarbans. Most pleasant journey from Dhaka to Khulna is by Paddle Steamer, Rocket presenting a picturesque panorama of rural Bangladesh. Day and night-long coach services by road are also available. The quickest mode is by air from Dhaka to Jessore and then to Khulna by road.

Journey time : It varies depending on tides against or in favour in the river. Usually it takes 6 to 10 hours journey by motor vessel from Monga to Hiron Point or Katka.

Accommodation Inside the forest : 

Hiron Point : Comfortable three-stories Rest-house of the Mongla Port Authority. Prior bookin is to be made.

Katka : Forest Department Rest-House located here. Prior booking essential. Journey by Rocket Steamer to Mongla dnd Khulna. 

Minimum Journey time is 22 hours for Mongla and 24 hours for Khulna from Dhaka.

Entry Permission : Prior permission must be obtained through written application from the Divisional Forest Office, Circuit house road, Khulna (Phone-720665) to visit the Sundarbans. Required entrance fees for visitors, vessel or boat payable at the relevant forest station/range office.

Fee for Commercial Photography :

Movie Tk. 5,000.00 per role exposed.

Video Tk.4,000.00 per cassette.

Still Tk. 1,000.00 per role exposed.

Guided Tours : Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation and other tour operators offers all inclusive guided package tours from Dhaka to Sundarbans and return during the tourist season (October to March).

Climate : Climate in the Sundarbans is moderate. Air is humid. Full monsoon is from June to Se-tember. The annual rainfall average between 65'' and 70''. During ebb-tide the forest becomes bare by 6-7 feet and at high tide (30 miles and hour) the entire territory of the forest floats on water.

Life in forest : Only means of transportation inside the forest is boat. There is no road, no trail of a path anywhere. The wood-cutters make temporary dwellings at the edge of the forest at at a height of 8-10 feet for fear of wild animals other live on boats. In the chandpai region it is fascinating to see the nomadic fishermen (living with families on boats0 catching fish with the held of trained offers.  Exciting activities take place in Dublar Char in the rorest where fishermen from Chittagong father for four months (mid Oct to mid Feb) to catch and dry fish. But the most daring and exciting or all activities is presented by the honey-collectors who work in groups for just two months (April-May) and it is interesting to see how they locate a hive and then collect honey.

Flora and Fauna : The Sundarbans is endowed by nature with rich flora nd fauna. It is a wonderful place to see or to shoot a Royal Bengal Tiger with Camera if one has the time to wait in the forest. There are a good number of tigers in the Sundarbans. Lovely spotted deer are easy to fund. Besides there are a wide variety of wildlife for whcih the Sundarbans is so famours. 

Visit to the forest : Permission from the Divisional Forest Officer, Khulna is required to visit to the forest. Cholera vaccine is to be taken well in advance. Anti-malarial, anti-diarrhoeal, insectrepellent cream, drinking water, green coconuts, medical kit, light tropical dress, thick rubber soled boots etc. are to be carried with the tourist. It will be wise to take the help of and experienced guide to make the journey fruitful.

Tourist season and Shooting : Best time to visit the Sundarbans is from November to March. Exciting honey collection season is during April-May. Hunting is prohibited by law in the country for the preservation of wildlife. Certain species of birds, however, can be shot with prior permission of the Divisional Forest Officer, Khulna.

Thank you for visiting Sundarban
Abdul Latif

JUTE OF BANGLADESH

Bangladesh's 'Golden fibre' comes back from the brink

Jute, a vegetable fibre that can be spun into sackcloth, used to be the 'golden fibre' of Bangladesh. It brought much-needed foreign income to the impoverished nation.But it lost its lustre in the 1980s after synthetic materials like polythene and plastics were introduced. Now the natural fibre has made a spectacular comeback. Exports of jute and jute products from Bangladesh this fiscal year crossed a record billion dollars as demand for the natural fibre is steadily increasing. With growing environmental awareness, jute, which is bio-degradable, has become the preferred alternative to polluting synthetic bags. Jute is considered to be the second most important natural fibre after cotton in terms of cultivation and usage. It is mainly grown in eastern India, Bangladesh, China and Burma.

Until recently the fibre was used mostly as packaging material. With a diversification of jute products, the demand for jute has increased. '' By processing the fibre mechanically and by treating it chemically, now jute can be used to make bags, carpets, textiles and even as insulation material,'' says Mohammad Asaduzzaman, a scientist at the Bangladesh Jute Research Institute in Dhaka.


When synthetics like polythene bags came into widespread use, the demand for jute declined and many jute mills in countries like Bangladesh were shut down. Thousands lost their jobs and farmers shifted from jute to more profitable rice cultivation. Today, as demand increases, more farmers are returning to this traditional crop.

It is estimated that nearly five million farmers are involved in jute plant cultivation in Bangladesh. It plays a key supportive role to the rural economy of Bangladesh. Once the jute plants are harvested they are bundled together and immersed in running water and allowed to rot. The the fibres are stripped from the plant. The stripped fibre is dried and later sent to mills for processing.


Golam Moassam, a research fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue, in Dhaka says, '' It is important to note that policy support also contributed to its widespread used of jute both locally and internationally. For example, the Bangladeshi government has made it compulsoty to use jute bags for packaging of food grains.

Jute is also versatile, strong and long-lasting and scientists say they are discovering more uses for it in different sectors. For example, Geotextiles, a diversified jute product, is used for soil-erosion control and also used in laying roads to give more durability. The natural fibre is also used to make pulp and Bangladeshi scientists are now working on an ambitious project to blend jute fabric with cotton to produce denim fabric.


They say if the jute plant is harvested earlier that the usual period of 120 days, then it gives a softer fabric. If this special quality of fibre is chemically modified and bleached then it becomes softer. If we can blend it with cotton then we can manufacture denim fabric and diversified textile products, says Mr. Asaduzzaman.


If this process can be commercialised, he says, it will bring down the demand for cotton, which is also becoming dearer day by day. The price of fabric can be reduced by a halft, bringing benefits to the country's garment section.

However, there are bottlenecks. Special machines are required to blend this fibre with cotton and they are yet to be produced commercially. Scientists hope spinning factories will be able to install these machines in the near future. Unfortunately, there is not much research going on in terms promoting deversified jute products.


Countries like Bangladesh and India, who are the major jute exporting countries, should conduct collaborative research to find out diversification of jute products.