A fire has taken place in Amarbunia area of Chandpai Range of Sundarban East Forest Division of Bagerhat. On Saturday (May 04) afternoon, a fire was reported at Latif's Chila in Sundarbans. On receiving the information, Sundarban East Forest Division Officer, Forest Guard, Morelganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Tarek Sultan, Morelganj Circle Additional Superintendent of Police along with two units of fire service reached Amarbunia area. However, as it was evening, the fire service personnel could not reach the spot with firefighting machines and equipment. The work of extinguishing the fire has not started.

Returning from the scene, security guards and locals said that there was a fire in many places in Latif area of Amarbunia area. A fire is burning in piles of leaves of various trees above ground in the Sundarbans. Fire is burning in 50 places. The extent of fire will cover one and a half kilometers.

A local person named Bellal Fakir said that the fire broke out about 2 km from the locality. Fire rises from the leaves. Big trees are burning

Fire Service and Civil Defense Station Mongla Station Officer Mohammad Kaymuzzaman said that two units of Morelganj and Mongla Fire Stations have reached Amarbunia area after receiving information from the Forest Department. We visited the spot. From where the fire broke out, the distance of water is about two kilometers. Due to which we have not been able to start the fire extinguishing work till now. We came back as it was evening. On Sunday, I will enter the forest at sunrise and start extinguishing the fire.

Asked about the current situation of the fire, he said, there are a lot of dry leaves in the forest due to which the fire is likely to spread in the air. Black smoke is currently visible in the area. However, care is being taken to prevent the fire from spreading to new areas.

CPG member Manimoy Mandal who went to put out the fire said that the fire is still burning in different parts of the forest. It was not possible to enter inside due to the intense heat of the fire. Although we managed to put out the fire in some nearby places, the fire is still not under control. In the evening we removed the dry trees along with the forest department and fire service personnel to prevent the fire from spreading to new areas. I have cut small drains at different places. There are many wild animals in the Gohin forest and at the same time the fire fighting activities have been stopped as it is getting dark.

Divisional Officer of Sundarban East Forest Division Kazi Mohammad Nurul Karim said that after hearing the incident of fire in Sundarban, Forest Department Fire Service and locals rushed there. The fire could not be brought under control till evening. There is still a fire burning. Fire control operations will start again from tomorrow morning.

Asked how the fire started in the forest or the extent of the fire, the DFO said, "We have not been able to know the cause of the fire till now." The extent of the fire is not known. A 3-member inquiry committee will be constituted to find out about the extent of the fire, the damage caused by the fire and the cause of the fire, with Assistant Conservator of Forests, Chandpai Range, Rana Dev. The committee will be asked to report within the next week and the extent of the damage will be known upon receipt of their report.

 

 

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