Ploy to restart Modhupur eco-park project alleged

"They (forest officials) are playing tricks with the indigenous people", they said.

The indigenous people are also being harassed by police, ruling party men and timber smugglers, the leaders alleged while talking to this correspondent during a recent visit to the area.

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On March 16, Modhupur police arrested Utpal Nokraak an indigenous teenager, from a clinic at Savar where he was undergoing treatment for bullet injuries he suffered in police firing during a Garo demonstration in January against the eco-park.

Every night police enter Garo villages to arrest people accused in "false cases" filed either by police or by the forest department.

But there has been so progress in trial of the murder of Prien Snal, shot dead during demonstrations against the proposed eco- park, they alleged.

On the other hand, forest area of Talki, Joynagacha, Luhuria Dukhola, Chunia, Pirgacha, Kabraguri, Sabupara, Gayra, and Gachabari are virtually open to smugglers for plunder of valuable trees, they alleged.

This correspondent during a visit to the area on Thursday saw timber smugglers cutting trees from the forest area during day time.

Talking to this correspondent, some indigenous people alleged that trees are being taken away in connivance with a section of forest guards and officials.

"They (forest officials) give the scope to thieves on assurance that they would thwart the indigenous people's movement against the proposed ceo-park", one indigenous man said.

They said forest officials are also giving the indigenous people false hope of longtime lease of forestlands.

Ruling party activists often enter Garo villages and threaten them not to be involved in the movement against the proposed eco-park.

Albart Mankin and Rakhi Mrong also alleged that forest department officials are filing false cases against tribesmen, implicating them in false cases for felling trees in the forest area. They demanded removal of the corrupted forest officials.

When contacted, Zahirul Haque, Assistant Divisional Forest Officer in Tangail division, admitted pilferage of forest trees but denied involvement of any forest department employee in it.

Abu Jafar Alam, officer-in-charge of Modhupur thana, said police go to Garo villages on orders from higher authorities to arrest persons accused in cases.

But he could not say any thing about trial of Piren Snal murder case..