Forest robbers destroy 5,000 trees

A gang has been mindlessly lifting earth from a reserve forest in Gangamati area adjacent to Kuakata sea beach in Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali.

In the process, the plunderers are destroying the trees including the newly-planted ones. So far, they have ravaged around 5,000 trees creating a deep pond-shaped ditch on an acre of the forest land.

The forest department has filed a general diary (GD) with Mahipur Police Station mentioning the names of three forest robbers.

Abul Kalam Azad, Mahipur range officer in Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali Coastal Forest Department, lodged the GD on February 3.

In the GD, the forest official mentioned that Shafizul Islam, 55, of Char Chapli area adjacent to Kuakata, Jamal Hossain, 48, of Sirajpur area and Md Rabbi, 45, of Alipur area were extracting and selling soil from the reserved forest of ​​Char Chapli area.

At the same time, they have destroyed around 5,000 trees from one acre of mangrove forest which was created on 50 hectares of land in 2020-21. They were also destroying 50 to 60-year-old trees with excavator machines.

The gang has caused extensive damage to the forest. In the complaint, it has also been mentioned that if the officials and employees of the forest department try to prevent the gang, they will be intimidated and threatened with death.

Mahipur Police Station Sub-Inspector (SI) Mahbub Alam Khan sent a prayer to the Kalapara Senior Judicial Magistrate's Court on February 4 seeking permission to investigate and take action regarding the GD. Mahipur Police Station Officer-In-Charge (OC) Khandaker Mohammad Abul Khair said necessary steps will be taken subject to investigation upon receiving the court order.

Contacted, Assistant Forest Conservator of Patuakali Forest Department Md Tariqul Islam said this gang has been involved in the looting of reserve forest trees and soil for a long time. Of the gang, two separate cases have already been filed against Shafizul for looting trees which are under trial in the court.

Lincoln Bayen, Barishal Divisional Coordinator of the Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), said deforestation and selling soil of the forest land was in no way legal under the Forest and Environment Act. It is against the law to dig a pond inside the forest by destroying the trees.

He also demanded that legal action be taken against those involved in the crime.

Although attempts were taken to contact the main accused Shafizul over the phone, he did not receive the call. The other two alleged robbers-- Jamal Hossain and Rabbi--declined to comment over the matter.