Khulna, Apr 4 (V7N)- The honey harvesting season in the Sundarbans under the Satkhira Range of the Western Forest Division is starting on April 7. Although the work of harvesting honey in the Sundarbans was supposed to start from Tuesday (April 1) morning with a valid pass from the Forest Department, the formalities of the honey harvesting season will be held on April 7 due to the Eid holidays.

Forest Department sources said that although the formalities of honey harvesting have not started, several beekeepers entered the Sundarbans in 4 boats on the morning of April 1 to collect honey. Ziaur Rahman, station officer of the Buri Goalini Station of the Satkhira Range, handed over the pass to the forest beekeepers through prayers and supplications.

According to the information of the Forest Department Satkhira Range, the official target of honey harvesting for the current 2025 season has been set at 1,500 quintals and the target level of beeswax at 400 quintals.  On April 1, the Mouwals collected 9 honey bees from Burigoalini and Kobadak stations. Of these, 4 boats entered the Sundarbans in the morning.

Mouwal Fazlul Haque said, "After Eid, I am happily going to the Sundarbans with hope to collect honey. But with the rate at which honey has been illegally stolen from the Sundarbans before the start of the season, I don't know if I will get the expected amount of honey. It is difficult to support our families and pay the moneylenders by collecting honey from a small area."

He called on the government to allow honey collection in the Sundarbans sanctuaries in the coming days.

According to Mouwal Fazlul Haque, the area for collecting honey is not sufficient for the number of Mouwals who go to the forest. Moreover, the honey is spoiled if honey is not collected from the sanctuaries.

Ziaur Rahman, station officer of Burigoalini station in Satkhira range of Sundarbans, said that due to the holy Eid-ul-Fitr, the honey harvesting festival was not held on April 1 in a grand manner this year. However, forest workers have been given permission to collect honey on a limited scale.

He also said that in the 22-23 financial year, 1023 quintals of honey were collected from the Sundarbans by the beekeepers and 306.90 quintals of wax were collected. 2046 beekeepers entered the Sundarbans through 290 passes and collected the honey and wax. In the next 23-24 financial year, 2470 beekeepers went to the Sundarbans through 364 passes to collect honey. They collected 1235 quintals of honey and 370.50 quintals of wax. He said that this year too, honey and wax will be collected as expected.

END/SDA/AJ