Cyclone Yaas: Sudarbans again to the rescue

The 10,000 square-kilometre Sundarbans, nearly 32 times bigger than Dhaka city, has been protecting its kingdom and the localities around it from cyclones for years after years.

It saved the coastal areas and the residents living there from many cyclones – from Aila to Amphan. 

Now cyclone Yaas is approaching.

"Giving entry pass to the Sundarbans to fishermen and honey collectors has remained suspended now, and those who are already inside the forest have been asked to return within 25 May," said Sultan Ahmed, station officer of Burigoalini Forest Station at Satkhira range.

Abu Naser Md Mohsin Hossain, forest officer of Khulna division, said, "All the forest officials have been asked to stay safe. Forest department employees are working to bring back those who earn their livelihood from the Sundarbans to locality."

"The Sundarbans always save the localities from the big blow of any natural calamity and this time there will be no exception," he added.

On 10 November 2019, the Sundarbans was lashed by cyclone Bulbul, which caused damages mostly in its western part. 

The damage was estimated at more than Tk50 lakh.

Cyclone Amphan made landfall on 20 May 2020, causing damages worth Tk47 lakh and destroying many valuable trees.

The Sundarbans has faced 75 big cyclones from 1584 to 2020 so far.