A fire continues to burn intermittently in the Shaplar Beel area of Teisher Chila within the Chandpai Range of the Sundarbans. Ten units of the fire service have been deployed to extinguish the blaze, now in its second day. Due to the distant water sources, both the fire service and the forest department are struggling to control the fire. To prevent further spread, the forest department and local villagers have cleared fire lines around the affected area. However, the exact extent of the fire remains unknown.

In response, the forest department has formed a three-member committee, led by Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Dipan Chandra Das, to determine the cause and assess the damage. This is the second investigation committee formed for the incident. Firefighting efforts began on Sunday night at 9 PM, with fire service teams from Khulna and Bagerhat using tidal water from a nearby river to douse the flames. The forest department has also deployed its own pumps to aid in the effort. Firefighters first reached the location with their equipment on Sunday evening.

Khulna Fire Service’s Assistant Director, Abu Bakkar Jaman, stated that fire pumps were set up on the dead Bhola River at night, and efforts to extinguish the flames commenced immediately. The availability of water is inconsistent due to tidal movements, making the process challenging. To contain the spread, fire lines have been cleared around the affected area. With the morning tide on Monday, water-spraying operations resumed, with both the fire service and the forest department working tirelessly to control the blaze.

According to Imran Ahmed, Conservator of Forests (CF) of the Khulna Division, the fire has been burning intermittently, and although firefighting operations have been ongoing since Sunday night, water scarcity has slowed progress. It remains uncertain when the fire will be fully extinguished. The investigation committee has been tasked with submitting its report within seven working days.