Online Desk: Fire in the Sundarbans is yet to be doused as the fire has spread to more than five kilometers’ area in the mangrove forest.

Bangladesh Navy (BN), Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) and Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG) joined operation with Fire Service, Forest Department and its associate bodies to douse the fire.

At first, a 10-member firefighting team, led by Lieutenant Commander Arafatul Arefin of the Navy’s Mongla base started an operation to douse the fire in the morning today.

Deputy Director of Bagerhat Fire Service and Civil Defence Mamun Ahmed said five firefighting units are at the spot. Of these, three units have started working and other two units are on standby, he said, adding that a helicopter
of the Air Force also joined the operation.

Mamun Ahmed said the fire fighters are facing problems to douse the blaze in the Sundarbans during low tide of the Bhola river, a water source for the firefighters.

Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Sundarbans Eastern Division Kazi Mohammad Nurul Karim said due to different adverse situations, works cannot be started in full-fledged to douse the fire.

Works started today to douse the blaze as Bangladesh Navy, Bangladesh Air Force and Bangladesh Coast Guard joined the operation with Fire Service and Forest Department, he said.

The Forest Department has formed a three-member probe committee, led by Rana Dev, assistant conservator of forests (ACF) of Chandpai range of the Sundarbans, to find out the reason of the fire and assess the damages caused
by it.

Nurul Karim said the fire originated in Latif’s Chila area near Amurbunia patrol post of the mangrove forest around 3:30pm on Saturday.