Bangladesh Reopens Shela Route
The Bangladesh government has decided to allow vessels to ply through the Shela River in the Sundarbans, defying the recommendations of the UN experts and environmentalists.
The decision came from an inter-ministerial meeting at the shipping ministry Tuesday with Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan in the chair, apparently in the face of pressure from river transport workers.
The river was made off limits to shipping after a tanker capsized in the water streaming through the Sundarbans on December 9, spilling 3.58 lakh liters of crude oil into the world's largest mangrove forest and threatening its unique biodiversity. Carrying 357,664 l of furnace oil, the tanker ‘OT Southern Star 7’ went down after being hit by another vessel on the Shela at Mrigmari in the Sundarbans Chandpai range.
Minister Khan last month shot down an environment ministry proposal to permanently shut the route. Nearly a month passed and the government reopened the route, used mainly to ship cargo from Mongla port, for vessel movement with some conditions.
The shipping ministry has stated that vessels will ply the Shela River in a “controlled” manner, and that no oil tanker or coastal ships will be allowed through the channel.
According to the Shipping Ministry's decision, water vessels can ply the Shela River route until the completion of dredging work on the Mongla-Ghashiakhali channel.
Criticizing the government decision, environmental activists said movement of water vessels through the river routes of the Sundarbans is direct violation of national laws and international conventions. The green activists concern about the extent to which this will be implemented cannot be brushed aside.