Feasting on Khagrachhari forests

Plundered wood stacked near a forest in Khagrachhari for transportation. PHOTO: STAR

Every day, at least 30 truckloads of illegal wood find their way to different brick fields and unauthorised timber markets in Khagrachhari, Rangamati and Chittagong districts, sources said.

This correspondent detected that more then 40 areas in the eight upazilas from where the illegal timbers and wood are collected by traders, allegedly by 'managing' forest department staff.

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The areas include Zoutha Khamer, Baillahachhari, Guimara and Tabalchhari in Matiranga upazilla; Lemuchhari, Zeromail and Zamtali in Khagrachhari Sadar; Chhoto Merung, Babuchhara and Maiddah Boyakhali in Dighinala; Logung, Pujgung and Latiban in Panchhari; Patazara and Baganbazar in Ramghar. Laxmichhri and Manikchhari upazilas are the main centres from where the fire-wood are being supplied to different areas and brick fields in Khagrachhari, Rangamati and Chittagong.

Mong Ching Marma, a timber trader, admitted that he like many others are felling all kinds of trees almost regularly.

Abdul Jalil, another trader in Merung area in Dighinala estimated that more then 30 truckloads of illegal timber leave the forest areas every day, virtually without any obstruction from the forest department men.

He said these timbers and wood are sold to brick fields or traders in other districts. The plundered timbers include Kona, Shal, Segun and Jarul, he said. One truckload of such timber is sold at between Tk 20,000 and Tk 30,000, he said. "When forest department staff come we manage them", he claimed.

The district administration and the forest department on several occasions said they would take steps to stop the plunder of trees from forests, but to no effect. The district officials on January 20 told newsmen that action would be taken against illegal felling of trees. But only Tk 20,000 was realised as fine from two brick fields since then. Neither any timber trader was touched nor any of the illegal brick fields burning hundreds of tonnes of firewood a day was closed, sources said.