Recently, from some of the daily newspapers, we have come to know that the Government of Bangladesh is going to set up rail-line from Navaran of Jessore District to Munshiganj of Satkhira District which is very adjacent to the Sundarbans. According to the news, there are deep forests and shrimp farms on the designed rail-line and hundreds of the mangrove trees will be subjected to clear-cut for installation of the infrastructures. The news also said that the wildlife may be hampered due to high decimal sound of the railway and environment and ecology will be threatened for regular operation of the rail coaches.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION FROM MAP'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
First, I want to thank our friends from Humanity Watch for informing us of this impending disaster that will surely adversely affect the Sundarbans. The plan needs much closer scrutiny and thorough EIAs should be carried out as prescribed in the letter by Hasan Mehedi. I am personally concerned that yet another serious threat looms on the horizon for this fantastic Wonder of the World- the Sundarbans- the largest contiguous mangrove forest on our planet and a declared World Heritage Site. To explain the relevance of this issue for the Mangrove Action Project, I must explain that only within the last two weeks we joined other NGOs and individuals in forming the Save the Sundarbans Campaign. This international alliance has come together to first address the terrible plans for a massive open pit coal mine at Phulbari, which will reduce the fresh water flows for rich agricultural lands in Bangladesh, as well as reduce the flow of fresh water to the mangroves of the Sundarbans, which are already facing serious salinization problems because of up river dams, levees and water diversions. Now we see yet another threat to the Sundarbans that needs our immediate attention - this proposed rail-line in the adjacent areas of the Sundarbans
Mangroves need conservation and restoration more than ever. Already, over 16 million ha of mangroves have been lost to development pressures - over half the mangroves of the world -, so the Sunfdarbans is not unique in that sense. But we believe this is the time to now take a stand against further losses of precious mangrove habitat before more is lost. Mangroves support a rich biodiversity, including important wild fisheries, endangered species such as the Bengal tiger, and also support many local fishing communities. The mangroves also provide a vital, life-saving buffer against tsunamis and cyclones, as well as sequester and store massive amounts of carbon, thus mitigating the effects of climate change.
With these and many other important reasons to conserve and sustainably manage the mangroves of the Sundarbans, we at MAP urge the government of Bangladesh to not go ahead with this proposed rail line, nor the Phulbari coal mine. These will be just two more nails in the coffin of this unique World Heritage Site. Again, we at MAP are alerting our global network of this imminent decision that will have dire consequences for the Sundarbans and all of the life and vitality it holds. We urge the government of Bangladesh to instead become a good role model for the rest of the world in properly managing and restoring the Sundarbans. Please do not allow these kinds of unsustainable developments rob future generations of their rightful heritage!
For the Mangroves and the Mangrove Communities,
Alfredo Quarto,
Executive Director
Mangrove Action OProject
PO Box 1854
Port Angeles, WA 98362-0279
TAKE ACTION NOW by sending a letter of concern to:
1. The Director General
Department of Environment
E/16 Agargaon, Sher-E-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka
2. The Director General
Bangladesh Railway, Rail Bhaban
16 Abdul Gani Road, Dhaka
3. Director
Department of Environment
Khulna Division, Boyra, Khulna
SAMPLE LETTER
This sample letter is from Hasan Mehedi, Member Secretary, Bonojibi Odhikar Suraksha Mancho
Please create your own letter using the sample as a guideline and send to the above addresses.
Dear Sir/Madam
Greetings from Bonojibi Odhikar Suraksha Mancho, a civil society platform for biodiversity conservation through ensuring forest people's rights.
Recently, from some of the daily newspapers, we have come to know that the Government of Bangladesh is going to set up rail-line from Navaran of Jessore District to Munshiganj of Satkhira District which is very adjacent to the Sundarbans. According to the news, there are deep forests and shrimp farms on the designed rail-line and hundreds of the mangrove trees will be subjected to clear-cut for installation of the infrastructures. The news also said that the wildlife may be hampered due to high decimal sound of the railway and environment and ecology will be threatened for regular operation of the rail coaches.
In the mean time, the local people have organized different demonstrations against the initiative and urged to set up rail-line up to Satkhira district headquarter only.
It is to mention that, the Sundarbans is already under threat due to several unplanned and unwise development initiative. To stop further degradation its 10 Kilometres of adjacent areas from the boundary line has been declared as Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) by the Government of Bangladesh in 1999. You may know, wood-cutting, collecting, destroying habitat of plant or living species of ECA or creating any threat on its biodiversity is totally prohibited according to the Act. Besides, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is mandatory according to the law, if anyone is interested to implement any infrastructural project in the ECA.
As concerned and anxious to hear the news, Bonojibi Odhikar Suraksha Mancho is requesting you to inform us about present situation of the project. If the project is going to implement, are there any EIA conducted. If any EIA has been conducted, please let us know about the EIA report. If any EIA is yet to be conducted, please take necessary measures to ensure impartiality, integrity and peoples participation in it.
We are humbly requesting you to inform us about your initiatives.
Thank you for nice cooperation
