Rampant rubber theft from govt gardens

Organsied gangs enjoying blessings of political quarters are engaged in the theft for long. At least 30,000 kilograms of rubber was stolen from the four gardens in the region in last five months.

This could not be stopped even after filing of cases with different police stations, repeated meetings with local political leaders, people's representatives and officials.

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Sources in the regional office of Bangladesh Forest Industries Development Corporation (BFIDC) at Srimangal said, in last five months, 14,600 kgs of rubber were stolen from Rupaichhara rubber garden; and 7,098, 5,850, 368 kgs from gardens in Habiganj, Srimangal and Moulvibazar respectively.

Lack of adequate security men is the main cause of frequent thefts, they said.

The organised gangs even looted rubber from gardens in Rupaichhara and Habiganj during day time. At Rupaichhara garden, Ansars opened fire to drive away miscreants.

As many as 41 cases were lodged with police stations during the period. Police recovered 25,000 kgs of rubber.

The lifted raw rubber after drying is sold in black markets at Tk 25 to Tk 30 per kilogram while the market price is between Tk 40 and Tk 60.

The gangs have links with local ruling party men and a section of garden officials, they claimed. In certain areas, even law enforcers remain silent out of fear.

A trader in Srimangal said the theft can not be stopped as a section of garden employees and political leaders are involved in it.