Three days into the forest fire that broke out in Tultala area of Chandpai range of the Sundarbans in Sarankhola upazila, smoke was still billowing around the burnt out area yesterday, reports UNB from Bagerhat. Firefighters along with forest officials were found spraying water to stop the smoke in the area yesterday morning, though the Forest Department (FD) claimed that it has been completely extinguished. The firefighters and forest officials will be staying there for a few days more, they added. Conservator of Forests (Khulna circle) Mohammad Zahir Uddin Ahmed said the fire has been extinguished after hours of hectic efforts by the firefighters, forest officials and locals from Wednesday evening to yesterday noon.
Meanwhile, the FD has issued a special ‘alert’ in Chandpai range of the Sundarbans East Zone following the fourth fire incident there in four weeks. The FD has put in place a number of special security measures and also a temporary ban on issuance of all types of ‘permit’ for general people in Chandpai and Swarankhola range, on forest resource collection and on entry to the forest by fishermen, and honey and leaf collectors in Chandpai range.