Editorial
Devastation of reserve forest
Can't the wanton plunder be stopped?
IT is mind boggling that more than 250 acres of forest in Madhupur Upazilla of Tangail have been totally denuded in the course of the past one year. And from reports appearing in this paper, everyone, from the district administration and forest officials to the forest guards, seems to be powerless in the face of money, political connection and power to stop the grave damage being wreaked upon the ecology of the area.
This is certainly not the first instance of public land being appropriated illegally by ruling party goons and strongmen. This is a criminal act, and anyone in a position of responsibility who has failed to prevent it happening, either by acts of commission or omission, cannot absolve himself of the responsibility.
In Bangladesh, where one can get away with murder, particularly if one has the right connection, it is no wonder that vast tracts of Sal forest would be stripped bare for turning them into seasonal fruit orchards, with total impunity. The regrettable aspect of it is that it has been going on for many years.
The pathetic aspect of the sordid story is the link of the perpetrators with the two major political parties. During the 4-party alliance regime, reportedly, influential persons with links to the BNP had also indulged in cutting down trees on hundreds of acres of forest land for commercial purposes, in the same area.
There are several aspects of the matter that leave us wondering at the failure of both the administration and the political parties in fulfilling their responsibility of safeguarding our national resources.
Nobody should be more aware than the people's representatives of the need to preserve forest lands, which have never been quite enough, and which are getting depleted gradually due to natural causes, but more alarmingly, due to the onslaught of man. We understand that a large number of cases have been instituted against the alleged criminals, yet the plundering has not stopped. Using political clout for personal benefit at the expense of the state should not be tolerated.
The area in question happens to be government land, not to speak of the fact that it is a part of the reserve forest; and it obligates full-time protection of its resources. Nothing can justify, not even the lack of manpower, the failure of the administration to stop the incessant devastation.
The relevant ministries should arise from slumber and act to stop further damage to the forest and also bring to book the criminals as well as all those who have been complicit in the matter.
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