SATKHIRA, Mar: 2 Unauthorised extraction of the resources of the Sunderbans is going on unabated.
As a result, the government has been facing huge revenue losses every year.
The personnel of the Forest Department failed to take any steps to check the plundering of the resources.
The Sundarbans is famous for its forest resources and cover a vast area of Satkhira district. The government earns Taka ten crore every year from the Sundarbans, it Is learnt.
Deer, tigers, golpata. honey, wood and other resources are being plundered everyday, according to a source. The government strictly prohibited hunting of wild animals in the Sundarbans. But professional and non-professional hunters are often seen hunting animals in the Sundarbans Indiscriminately. The hunters enter the Sundarban without prior permission of the Division Forest Office (DFO) and hunt animals to sell their skin at high prices.
Besides this, honey, the nature's gift, produced in the Sundarbans which can earn a lot of money, is being exploited by unauthorised people and sold in markets of
Satkhira. Khulna. Bagerhat, Mongla and Jessore.
The number of Royal Bengal Tigers, the pride of the. Sundarbans is decreasing due to random hunting. It is learnt from a preliminary survey report recently that the number of Royal Bengal Tigers now stands at 600.
According to reports, the number of male deer is one lakh and that of female is also one lakh. However, the numbers of crocodiles in the coastal areas of the Sundarbans is said to be increasing gradually.
It is learnt from a survey report conducted in the Sundarbans by World Wild Life Preservation Fund in 1978. that the population of. Royal Bengal Tigers was 300. In 1985, it increased to 500. But a very recent survey revealed that the number increased to 600' Human Rights
aid camp
A day-long Legal Aid Camp under the Joint auspices of Human Rights Development Project (HRDP) Satkhira. Bangladesh Human Rights Commission and PTSC Dhaka was held here at Puler hat premises under Tala thana recently.
Syed Kamal Bakhj. President HRDP. Satkhira presided over the function while Akram Hossain Chowdhury was present as chief guest. Advocate Nazrul Islam. Prof Abu Ahmed and M Ibrahim Sardar, secretary HRDP Satkhira spoke on the occasion.
Soil fertility declines
Use of cowdung as fertilizer Is declining fast in the district greatly affecting cultivation.
Agriculture Extension Department sources said, fertility of soil depends on its organic chemical and biological ingredients which are formed from the use of cowdung and other organic components.
Rampant use of chemical fertilizer has been affecting fertility of soil. Most of the farmers dp not know the use of correct proportionate chemical fertilizers on their cropland.
Moreover, cultivation of same crops for years is another reason for decreasing soil fer-UUty.
Local agri experts suggested that soil fertility can be improved bj using cowdung and other natural manures in the croplands and training in this
regard is necessary for the farmers.
Housewife killed
One pregnant housewife was beaten to death by her husband recently.
It is reported that Rustom Gazi of village Dudhlia under Tala thana of the district married Anowara Kha tun. 20. daughter of Sarup Sardar of village Kuariati under Assassuni thana of the same district six months back.
At the time of wedding Anowara's father gave 3000 and other valuables as dowry to son In law. Rustom.
Recently, he demanded more dowry which was refused by the father. As a result, he tortured her quite often. On the day of occurrence Rustom tortured his wife mercilessly and killed her on the spot. Later, the husband tried to suppress the murder by hanging the body on the branch of a tree.
After getting news. Tala thana police rushed to the place of occurrence and sent the body to Satkhira hospital for post-mortem.
A case was lodged with the Tala police station.