The Forest Department has decided to indefinitely suspend three-day travel permits and overnight passes from the Satkhira range following incidents of a tourist going missing and dying in the Sundarbans. However, one-day travel permits will continue as usual. Local tourism business owners, trawler owners, and tour guides have expressed concern and anger over this decision. They fear that a prolonged suspension of the three-day passes will plunge the tourism business centered around the Satkhira range into a major crisis.
This decision was made during meetings held at the Divisional Forest Officer’s office on November 8 and 9. The step was taken considering security issues in the wake of a tourist recently going missing during a Sundarbans trip and his body being recovered.
Decision After Tourist Goes Missing
On November 6, Riaz Ahmed, a resident of Bhaluka in Mymensingh, went missing while visiting the Sundarbans. Later, on the night of November 8, his body was recovered from the Matharkhal area of Alorkol in Dublar Char.
Following this incident, the Forest Department decided to suspend three-day travel and overnight stay permits on wooden tourist trawlers from the Satkhira range of the western Sundarbans.
A Z M Hasanur Rahman, Divisional Forest Officer of the western Sundarbans, stated that permits for three-day travel and overnight stays on wooden-bodied trawlers from the Satkhira range will not be issued for the time being. However, one-day travel permits will remain in force under existing rules. Preparations are underway to issue a circular regarding the suspension of the three-day passes.
When asked how long the ban will remain in effect, he said it is being suspended indefinitely for now, discussions are ongoing with higher authorities, and a decision will be announced later.
Trawlers Built on Loans, Businesses Face Hardships
Local tourism business owners and trawler owners have expressed anger over the Forest Department’s decision. They stated that many have built boats by taking out loans and debts to transport tourists. If three-day travel permits remain suspended, uncertainty will arise regarding their investments and loan repayments.
Jahangir Alam, owner of a tourist boat, said they built boats for tourists by taking loans, and now with permits suspended, they are worried about how to repay those loans. He demanded a swift reversal of the decision to restore the three-day passes.
Jahangir Alam, cashier of the Munshiganj Trawler Owners Association, claimed that tourists have been traveling to the Sundarbans from Munshiganj for about 35 years, and no such accident had occurred before. In his view, the tourism activities of the entire area should not be restricted because of an isolated incident.
Questions Raised Over Previous Accidents
Tour guide G M Masum Billah also criticized the Forest Department’s decision. He said this is not the first time such an accident has happened in the Satkhira range. On September 13, 2025, a tourist named Abdullah (16) drowned after being swept away by a current while bathing at Kochikhali Dimer Char. On February 24, 2023, a tourist net boat capsized in the Pussur River area, though 13 people were rescued alive. Additionally, on November 8, 2025, a net boat carrying 13 tourists capsized in the Dhangmari Khal as well.
Masum Billah alleged that the Forest Department did not take such steps following previous incidents. He considers it illogical to suspend the Satkhira range’s three-day passes as punishment for an accident caused by tourists’ carelessness.
He fears this decision will damage the tourism potential built around the Sundarbans’ Satkhira range. Meanwhile, the Forest Department stated that while three-day permits are suspended for now, one-day trips will continue according to previous rules.
The Forest Department has indefinitely suspended three-day travel and overnight passes in the Satkhira range of the Sundarbans, prompting anger among local tourism businesses and trawler owners.
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