The tradition began in 2001 when the first National Sundarbans Conference was held under the Bangladesh Environmental Movement (BAPA), with participation from Khulna University and 70 other environmental organizations. The conference declared February 14 as Sundarbans Day, and since then, it has been observed every year. This year marks the 25th celebration of the occasion.

Awareness Programs Across Coastal Regions

To honor this day, Sundarbans Academy in Khulna has planned several programs, including seminars, rallies, signature campaigns, painting competitions, bicycle rallies, human chains, and photography contests. Awareness activities will also take place in 17 sub-districts across five coastal districts identified as impact zones of the Sundarbans.

The theme for this year is “Love Sundarbans on the World’s Day of Love.” According to Professor Anwarul Kadir, Executive Director of Sundarbans Academy, the day’s main event will be held at Khulna Press Club in collaboration with the Forest Department. A key focus will be creating public awareness about protecting Sundarbans from plastic pollution and other environmental threats.

A Call for Official Recognition of Sundarbans Day

Professor A. B. M. Abdul Malek, Coordinator of the Sundarbans Protection Movement, has urged the government to recognize February 14 as an official Sundarbans Day. He emphasized that while the Sundarbans play a crucial role in Bangladesh’s survival, increasing salinity, illegal poaching, deforestation, and harmful fishing practices continue to threaten this fragile ecosystem. He called on the Forest Department and the government to take strong, practical measures to protect the forest.

The Vital Role of Sundarbans in Coastal Protection

People living in coastal regions understand the importance of Sundarbans better than anyone. Bidyesh Ranjan Mridha, a lecturer from Kapotakkho College in Koyra, said, “Without the Sundarbans, disasters would have wiped out Koyra long ago. To protect our own future, we must save the Sundarbans. Reducing pressure on the forest and creating alternative livelihoods for local communities is crucial.“
Illegal activities inside the forest, such as poaching and piracy, have also become a significant concern. Azizul Islam, a resident of Bedkashi village, said, “Forest crimes, such as deer and tiger poaching, are on the rise. Today, on Sundarbans Day, we urge the authorities to take immediate action to eliminate these threats.“

The Rich Biodiversity of Sundarbans

According to the Forest Department, the Bangladesh part of the Sundarbans covers 6,017 square kilometers and is home to:

• 528 plant species
• 505 wildlife species, including
  • 49 mammals
  • 87 reptiles
  • 14 amphibians
  • 355 bird species

As per the 2023 wildlife survey, Sundarbans is home to:

• 136,604 spotted deer
• 152,444 monkeys
• 47,515 wild boars
• 25,124 monitor lizards
• 12,241 porcupines

The most recent 2024 survey confirms the presence of 125 Bengal tigers.

The Need for Stronger Conservation Efforts

Mihir Kumar Doe, Conservator of Forests (Khulna region), stressed that the Sundarbans are critical to Bangladesh’s environment and climate resilience. He said,
“We must protect this natural shield at all costs and stop all activities that harm the Sundarbans. While the Forest Department is actively working to prevent forest crimes, protecting Sundarbans requires mass awareness and collective action.”

A Shared Responsibility

The Sundarbans are not just a forest; this is Bangladesh’s lifeline. Without this mangrove shield, the country would face devastating climate disasters, endangering millions of lives. As communities, organizations, and policymakers come together on Sundarbans Day, the message is clear—love for nature must translate into action.

By ensuring sustainable conservation efforts, promoting eco-friendly policies, and providing alternative livelihoods for local communities, Bangladesh can safeguard the Sundarbans for generations to come.

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Ghost fishing is a technique of using fishing equipment to continue trapping and killing wildlife even after all control over the equipment has been lost. It is the destructive process of continuing to collect and kill marine species with a lost, broken, or abandoned fishing net.

What is ghost fishing gear?

Derelict fishing gear, sometimes known as “ghost gear,” refers to any lost, abandoned, or discarded fishing gear in the maritime environment. This equipment keeps fishing and trapping animals, entangling and perhaps killing marine creatures, suffocating habitat, and posing a navigational risk. One of the main types of waste affecting the marine environment today is abandoned fishing gear, such as nets, traps, and pots.

How ghost fishing devastate our ocean?

A net doesn’t stop functioning just because fishermen aren’t using it anymore. The continued entanglement of everything in their path by these nets poses a serious threat to the health of our oceans and marine life.

The deadliest type of marine plastic is ghost fishing gear because it captures wildlife without discrimination, entangles sharks, sea turtles, marine mammals, and birds, and causes them to slowly suffocate to death. Also harmed by ghost fishing gear are vital marine environments like coral reefs. Additionally, it is to blame for the disappearance of fish stocks with high commercial value, endangering both the general sustainability of fisheries and the people who depend on fish for their sustenance and way of life.

The majority of contemporary nets are composed of long-lasting synthetic materials like nylon. Ghost nets make up at least 46% of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, according to a 2018 study published in the journal Scientific Reports. The broken-down fishing nets and lines remain; they merely fragment into smaller pieces of plastic. This microplastic is mistaken for food by marine animals, who then consume it, endangering their internal organs and expose them to toxic chemicals.

Ghost gear for tiny boats can impact propulsion and maneuverability, making sustainable fishing even more challenging. This gear also has a direct human cost, especially for smaller fishermen who are attempting to be good stewards of the ocean.

How to tackle?

Potential solutions exist that might significantly lessen the quantity of abandoned fishing gear in the oceans, prevent plastic from entering food webs, and lessen the overall impact of marine pollution on the fishing sector. Nearly half of all the plastic garbage that ends up in the ocean may be caused by lost or dumped fishing gear. Preventing any loss of fishing gear to the water is of utmost importance. For marine plastic recycling to rise, fishermen must get involved. Making fishermen aware of the fact that ghost nets will not be defeated if non-biodegradable fishing gear is left at sea is of utmost importance.

The creation and adoption of substitutes must be sped up, along with tracking fishing gear and providing financial incentives for recycling. Marking fishing gear with electrical and acoustic tags is one way to stop people from leaving it behind. This would make it more likely that it would be recovered and that those who left it would be held more accountable.

Farhana Islam
Agriculturist, Researcher
Fisheries Resource Management, CVASU

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