Despite much publicised preventive steps taken by eastern and western wings of the Sundarbans Forest Division (SFD), poachers trapped so many deer including pregnant deer and fawns to death.

This year's solemn Rash Purnima festival was a great opportunity for poachers to hunt deer and tigers in the world's largest mangrove forest with an approximate area of 4,000 square kilometres.

They entered the forest in the guise of pilgrims and visitors in connivance with a section of officials of Chandpai Range office, Dhangmari, Karamjol, Morapashur, Kokilmari and Harhbaria forest stations, sources said.

Two poachers of Paikgachha upazila of Khulna speaking anonymously said they hunted 13 deer and one fawn from the deep forest. Over 500 traps were laid across the Sundarbans, they added.

The two said over a dozen poachers were involved in trapping or shooting tigers to death but could not say how many were hunted.

Poachers on some 50 engine trawlers each carrying 10 to 15 men entered the forest through the Pashur and Shibsha rivers about a week before the festival.

They laid nylon traps where deer abound and trapped and poisoned herds of the animals to death, the sources added.

The areas abound with deer are Jamtala jungle, Meheralir Char, Bhenda Khali, Tiarchar, Khejurtala, Tetulbaria, Nilbaria and the banks of the Trikoni.

A visitor to the Rash festival, Noor Alam said he saw 10 trawlers ferrying 15 poached deer in the Sundarbans. Forest guards Altaf Hossain and Hashmat Ali of Swarankhola Range received bribes to make way for them, Noor alleged.

Sources said poachers were never questioned or hunted down anywhere in the forest. This happened due to cooperation of some corrupt officials of Nalian, Swarankhola, Chandpai and Satkhira Range offices, they alleged.

Eyewitnesses said armed poachers contacted forest guards while taking position on different creeks and canals with their engine boats.

A three-member probe committee has meanwhile been formed to probe the poaching of deer and Royal Bengal Tigers in Dublar Char, coastal belt of Bay of Bengal.

Conservator of Forests Altaf Hossain Khan has formed the probe committee to probe the allegations of poaching and asked to submit a report in one week.

Headed by Urram Kumar Saha, divisional officer of Department of Wildlife Conservation, the committee also comprises Mahmudul Hasan and Belayet Hossain, both assistant forest conservators.