Honey collectors allege that it has become difficult to enter the forest and collect honey safely without paying extortion to bandit groups.
Traditional honey collectors use boats to tread the many rivers and canals of Sundarbans to collect honey and beeswax. Photo: TBS
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Traditional honey collectors use boats to tread the many rivers and canals of Sundarbans to collect honey and beeswax. Photo: TBS
The number of honey collectors entering the Sundarbans has dropped significantly this season due to fear of forest bandits, raising concerns over production targets and livelihoods.
Mouals (traditional honey collectors) allege that it has become difficult to enter the forest and collect honey safely without paying extortion to bandit groups.
They claim that failure to meet demands ranging from Tk50,000 to Tk1 lakh per boat risks abduction, torture or death.
Officials and collectors say the decline may affect both the income of forest-dependent communities and government revenue.
The honey harvesting season began on 1 April and will continue until 31 May. For the current season, a target of 1,000 quintals has been set for the Bagerhat area of the East Sundarbans.
However, fewer collectors are taking permits compared to previous years.
Several collectors, requesting anonymity, said they have not yet entered the forest this season due to such fears. They said negotiations with bandit groups are ongoing and they may begin collection once an agreement is reached.
Sharankhola Forest Station Officer Md Khalilur Rahman said that 120 mouals in 21 boats have entered the forest so far.
He noted that interest has declined sharply, with uncertainty over whether even 29 passes will be issued this season, compared to 29 passes taken from the Sharankhola Range on the first day last year.
Dipon Chandra Das, assistant conservator of forests of the Chandpai Range, said 251 mouals in 93 boats have entered the forest with 31 passes so far.
He added that six boats returned without collecting honey after being asked to pay extortion by a bandit group.
Divisional Forest Officer Rezaul Karim Chowdhury said 511 mouals have collected honey using 82 passes so far this season. In the first half of the season, 107 quintals of honey have been harvested, generating Tk408,800 in revenue.
Last year, around 1,300 mouals collected 650 quintals of honey and 200 quintals of wax using 200 passes. Officials fear this year’s output may fall short due to reduced participation.
The forest department said patrols have been intensified to ensure the safety of collectors, and forest guards remain on alert to respond to any incidents involving bandits.
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