Rejoinder
Sundarban East Forest Division sent a rejoinder disagreeing with some parts of the news item that The Daily Star published on March 21 under the title "Forest Fire: Trees on 250 acres burnt in Sundarbans".The news mentioned that 250 acres of forest area was burnt while the rejoinder signed by divisional forest officer claimed that the actual burnt area was only two acres. According to the news, bawalis and fishermen alleged that the forest officials neglected their duties and made unnecessary delay in reaching the spot. Claiming that these allegations are not true, the rejoinder said Forest Department was informed of the incident at 4:00pm on March 19 and immediately local forest staff rushed to the area and tried to control the fire with the help of local people despite limitation of their fire fighting equipment. Effective steps taken by the forest officials brought the fire under control in a short time, it said.
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