Dhaka-Delhi co-op, political will must to save Sundarbans

Connecting and comprising Bangladesh and India's ecology, the Sundarbans cannot be protected from natural disasters like those induced by climate change and human intervention without political will and joint collaboration of the governments and people.

The warning came at a discussion, "Protecting the Sundarbans: our role", organised at the daily Bhorer Kagoj's office in the capital by some journalists working on the unique mangrove forest.

Whip Mahbub Ara Gini said Bangladesh would have to take the lead for it was a national resource.

Prof M Ataur Rahman of Buet's civil engineer said though diverting water to the Hooghly river using the Farakka barrage, India was experiencing higher salinity levels.

This was a threat not only to the Indian part of the Sundarbans but also to the Bangladeshi part, he said.

Dr Ishtiaq Uddin Ahmed, country director of International Union for Conservation of Nature, talked about several threats needed to be addressed properly.

The meeting decided organising a joint meeting in the Sundarbans in a few months comprising media personnel and environment activists and experts from the neighbouring countries to extend joint conservation efforts.