Sheikh Russel Eco Park, Rangunia: 150 trees felled in a month

Around 150 trees have been felled at Sheikh Russel Aviary and Eco Park in Rangunia upazila of Chattogram, which remains abuzz with people and is guarded round the clock by dozens of forest staff.

Yet, loggers managed to fell the trees and take the timber away right under the nose of forest staff, from an area situated about one kilometre from the park's entrance. The trees, most of them teak and acacia, were situated across 20 acres of land. The stumps of the felled trees now lie strewn among other smaller trees in the area.

Inside sources say the loggers have been felling the trees for about a month.

Hasibur Rahman, forest guard of the park who lives in barrack no-6 in the park, told The Daily Star that the area from where the trees were felled is a "remote place", which makes it difficult for them to look after the area.

He alleged that Danu Mia, chairman of Hosnabad Union Parishad and his son Sekandar Islam had played the key role in felling the trees as they were trying to grab the teak for long.

Hasibur said that portion of the eco park is yet to be walled off, so loggers took the chance to fell the trees.

Forest department sources said officials found 150 stumps on Saturday.

Md Shafikul Islam, divisional forest officer (DFO) of Chattogram South Forest Division told The Daily Star that they seized the logs and will file a case regarding the felling. "A section of people previously attempted to fell the trees, as far as I remember," he said.

"We assume those people got to the trees. No matter who was involved in this, they will be brought to book. We will investigate whether there is any negligence on the part our staff. If we find any, they will be punished," added Shafikul.

Sekandar Islam, who is being accused of felling the trees, told The Daily Star that those trees were planted by them with the forest department's permission over eight years ago. "It was part of a social forestation initiative. The land was later declared part of the eco park in 2013," he explained.

"We planted the trees years ago and sought permission to cut the trees from forest department. But they did not allow it. We are the people who informed the forest official of the tree felling. If they now accuse us, that is unfortunate for us," said Sekandar.