Khulna:State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shaikh Faridul Islam has directed authorities to implement strict measures to prevent the use of poison for fishing in the rivers and canals of the Sundarbans.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the state minister emphasized that fishing with poison in the Sundarbans must be completely eradicated, warning that officials responsible for stopping such practices would face consequences if they fail to fulfill their duties.
The minister made these remarks during an exchange meeting with members of the Tour Operators Association of Sundarbans (TOAS) aboard the vessel Explore-2 at the BIWTA ghat in Khulna. He asserted that any activities harmful to the environment and biodiversity of the Sundarbans would not be tolerated and urged Forest Department officials to prioritize the prevention of poison fishing.
Shaikh Faridul also stressed the importance of developing tourism in the region while safeguarding the Sundarbans' natural resources and biodiversity. He mentioned the need for scientific research to determine the maximum number of tourists the Sundarbans can handle daily and indicated that measures would be taken to ensure tourist numbers do not exceed the forest's carrying capacity.
During the meeting, TOAS members discussed various issues, demands, and expectations related to tourism businesses focused on the Sundarbans.