Drone seized in Sundarbans: ‘Flying without permission’

Forest officials today seized a drone from a visitor who was using it without permission to film in the Sundarbans.

The drone was seized when the visitor from a tourist launch flew it in Supati area of Sharankhola range this noon, said Joynal Abedin, assistant forest conservator of the range.

Later, the drone was kept at Katka Station Office of Sundarbans East Forest Department, he said.

Forester Abul Kalam, in-charge of Katka Sanctuary Centre, said legal action would be taken against those responsible for flying the drone without permission.

Belayet Hossain, divisional forest officer of the Sundarbans East Forest Department, said the Sundarbans is a protected area and to fly a drone there requires permission from the appropriate authority.

Earlier in January 2016 and December 2017, the forest rangers seized two drones of foreign nationals from the Sundarbans.