Khulna: Munni Khan Moon, the widow of Subrata Mondal, who fell victim to a crocodile attack in the Sundarbans last year, has recently given birth to a baby boy. The 25-year-old mother is presently residing at her grandmother Aparna Patowary's home with her newborn son.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Moon voiced her sorrow, sharing that the child came into her life after a seven-year wait. However, the joy is overshadowed by the absence of her husband, who never had the chance to know of his son's birth. "My son could not even see his father's face," she lamented, expressing her wish for her son to pursue a different future, far from the dangers of the forest.
Subrata Mondal, at the age of 32, left behind a legacy tied to the Sundarbans, venturing into the forest on September 30, the day of Bijoya Dashami during the Durga Puja festival, to catch crabs amid financial strains and his wife's pregnancy. Tragically, he was attacked by a crocodile while returning home through the Karamjal canal, with his body recovered seven hours later.
At the time of the incident, Moon was four months pregnant. She gave birth on March 20, a day before Eid-ul-Fitr, in Khulna, after being advised by doctors to move from Mongla. She later returned to her grandmother's house with the child on March 23, with both mother and baby in good health.
Moon's mother-in-law, Bamoni Mondal, has visited to see the child. Moon recounted their love-based marriage, initially fraught with resistance due to religious differences but eventually accepted. However, just as their family life seemed to stabilize, tragedy struck.
In memory of her husband, Moon named their son Shubhojit, inspired by his father's name, while facing the challenges of repaying Tk 1 lakh in debt and ensuring a secure future for her son.
According to RezauI Karim Chowdhury, Divisional Forest Officer of the Sundarbans East Division, Subrata had a valid permit for crab collection. His family received a government assistance cheque of Tk 3 lakh, although such support is not extended to families entering the forest without permits.
Communities in Khulna, Bagerhat, and Satkhira have long depended on the Sundarbans for their livelihood through fishing, crab collection, honey gathering, and golpata harvesting. However, challenges such as climate change, declining fish stocks, and increasing risks, including wildlife attacks and extortion, are prompting many to seek alternative professions or relocate to urban areas.