Origin of Sundarban

Sundarban was created after a natural calamity about two thousand years ago in the medieval age (in the 1500 Century) as claimed by the experts. Once this area was in the crest of the ocean. It emerged after the earthquake. In the past also, there were human

population in the forest of Sundarban and its surrounding areas. 

From the archeological remains recovered from various areas of the two 24 Parganas and Bangladesh, there have been clues of Jain and Buddhist temples, Buddhist coins, abandoned Maths (Monasteries), Stupas. Also found out are the testimonies of Kushan, Pal, Sen, Gupta, Shunga,Maurya periods. 

It was ruled by Bijoy Sen, Lakshman Sen, the Pathans and the Mughals, the Barobhuinyas and the British. Subsequently, the Portuguese (1628 – 1633) and the ‘Mag’ (1718 – 1800),

sea-dacoits during the period of Shayestakhan, Subedar of Emperor Akbar, oppressed these forest habitants.

Due to their endless oppressions, Sundarban was left almost without human population. This human settlement came to be devastated due to natural disaster.

Subsequently, with the beginning of the British rule in Sundarban (1757), human population started again building up there. Initially, there was no boundary of Sundarban. 

Subsequently, the Britishers cleared the forests and made the land cultivable and leased it out to the local Zamindars. In the year 1657, Shah Sujah brought this forest region under the Government for collection of revenues from there. William Dampeare and Le Hodges and the then Judge and Collector of Jessore, 

Tillman Henkel took initiatives to have surveyed the land of Sundarban and fixed its boundary (1830 – 1883). The map was prepared in 1764. After the land was leased out, for protection of the remaining forest, Forest Department was formed.

Sundarban was declared as protected Area in the year 1878. The first Forest Officer was M.U. Green (From May, 1884 to May, 12 1946). The Head Office was at Khulna of Bangladesh.