Mongla, June 16 (V7N)– Hundreds of tourism entrepreneurs and workers dependent on the Sundarbans industry formed a human chain in Mongla on Sunday morning, demanding the immediate reopening of the Karamjal tourist center. The protest, held on the Marine Drive road adjacent to the ferry pier, saw approximately 1,500 people from five different organizations participating.

The human chain, which began at 10:30 AM, highlighted the severe impact of the Forest Department's three-month ban on entry into the Sundarbans, enforced from June 1 to August 31 annually. While acknowledging the importance of the ban for the free movement and reproduction of fish and wildlife, speakers argued that Karamjal, a day visitor center near Mongla Port, should be exempted. They asserted that tourism at Karamjal poses no threat to the Sundarbans' biodiversity.

"We welcome the decision to protect the Sundarbans, but at the same time, we are appealing to reconsider this decision," stated a speaker. "As a result of this decision, hundreds of tourism businessmen and employees who have developed around the Karamjal tourism center have become unemployed."

Protesters also pointed out the disparity in support during the ban. "During the ban imposed by the Forest Department, forest workers have received various assistance from the government, but we do not receive any of it," a speaker added. "Therefore, we do not need assistance, our demand is that the Karamjal tourism center be opened. Only then will we be able to eat and survive with our families. Otherwise, we will have to live inhumane lives with our families."

Prominent speakers at the human chain included Md. Nur Alam Sheikh, president of Mongla Nagorik Samaj; Sundarbans tour operators Tanjir Hossain Rubel and Enamul Huda Bulbul; Shams Rubel; tourism businessman and former councilor M.A. Quader; Majhimalla Union leader Delwar Hossain; and local individuals Md. Sohag, Md. Masud Rana, Md. Emdadul Howlader, and Md. Mizanur Rahman.

Following the protest, a memorandum was submitted to Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, through Upazila Executive Officer Sharmin Akhter Sumi. The memorandum specifically requested the opening of only the Karamjal Tourism Center in the Sundarbans, allowing the broader ban on fishing and other tourism activities to remain in effect.

Tour operators reliant on the Sundarbans have been vocal about the extreme difficulties they face due to the tourism ban and are united in their demand for the special exemption for Karamjal.

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