Kazi Mamun: An influential local group has been accused of cutting down trees in the reserved forest of Majher Char adjacent to the Jamuna in Rangabali Upazila of Patuakhali. Moreover, under the Rangabali forest area, there are often violations of rules and regulations, such as cutting trees, allowing buffaloes to roam in the forest, illegally fishing in the river, fishing with various types of illegal nets, smuggling forest honey and creating artificial dams for fishing, and using forest land for watermelon cultivation. Although this has been published in various newspapers at various times, no legal intervention has been seen, it has been seen that it has been limited to paper and pen in the past few days. Although the divisional forest officer has been informed about various irregularities, no remedy has been found, and the officials have always been silent. And on that occasion, all irregularities have been suppressed. On the spot, it was seen that to escape the hands of the administration and the media, the main trees of the forest are being cut down and hidden in the surrounding ponds and fish enclosures. Sometimes the roots of the cut trees are buried in the ground, and sometimes they are tried to cover them with roots. Locals complain that if they protest, parts of the cut trees are being left in the ponds or enclosures to trap them. Sometimes false cases are being filed. Local fish trader Zakaria said, this reserved forest is our shield. Without it, we will be more affected by natural disasters. However, the bit officers and range officers and forest thieves are slowly destroying this garden. Locals who do not want to be named said that after Amitabh Sarkar came to the Rangabali Range from Dashmina, he often stayed at the Patuakhali district office instead of his own office and the bit officer leases buffaloes, canals, and artificial dams on his behalf. Even if the lease is only in name on paper, a huge amount of money has to be paid without any written agreement, otherwise, the lease is given to outsiders for a huge amount of money, as a result of which we have to pay a huge amount of rent every year to keep our buffaloes roaming in the field. A fish trader from Char Jamuna said, if the beat officer and range officer do not pay the desired amount, we have to go through various lawsuits from prayers to getting banned from fishing in the canal. He also said that due to staying in the same place for a long time, the local influential people have increased their acquaintance, so ordinary fishermen like us have to pay money to different levels of people or else we have to live with our children and daughters on an empty stomach. Sometimes, one or two things are spread by word of mouth and reach the public eye, but the paper stops it due to lobbying. Recently, an allegation of clearing the forest and cutting a fence with a fence inside the forest was published in various newspapers and magazines. According to the locals, Jewel Sikder, who first fenced the area under the umbrella of the Awami League, is now building a new dam by occupying forest land under the umbrella of the BNP. Drains and culverts have been made in the forest using a vacuum machine to drain the water from the fence. Mamun Majhi, brother of the fence owner Ismail Majhi, said that one and a half acres of forest land was occupied during the fence in 2020. This year too, a new dam has been built inside the forest 30-40 feet deep. Would it have been possible if the range officer had not known that deforestation is happening in this way? According to experts, this protected forest area, which was established in the 70s and 80s, acts as a natural shield for people in coastal areas. It protects biodiversity, is a shelter for animals and birds, and plays an important role in dealing with disasters. Moreover, due to working in the same place for a long time, there is a fear of getting involved in crimes due to local circles and acquaintances, so it is not right to keep anyone in the same place after a certain period of time. Investigation revealed that Rangabali Range Officer Amitabh Sarkar always keeps himself busy in various tasks in the divisional office so that he can win the affection of the divisional forest officer and always keep himself away from mistakes. And since he is seen asserting his dominance in the district office, there are murmurs in the office neighborhood that he thinks of himself as a divisional officer. When Rangabali Range Officer Amitabh Sarkar was contacted about various irregularities that have occurred in this range at different times, he did not want to talk or meet the reporter. On March 7, the last page of the Daily Desh Vanturpan published the news under the headline ‘Forest-eating gang in the reserved forest’. The news came to the notice of the Forest Department, and a three-member investigation committee was formed. Patuakhali Assistant Conservator of Forests Tariqul Islam was the convener of this investigation committee. The other members of the committee are Rangabali Range Officer of the Forest Department Amitabh Basu and Charmontaj Range Officer KM Moniruzzaman. Residents of Charmontaj and Rangabali ranges said that two members of the three-member committee are involved in various allegations about deforestation at their workplaces, but now the investigation officer has said that the matter is nothing but ridiculous. The public and the media are being fooled. We will have more details in the next issue.
Views: 2
