Tk 10 crore seized timber rotting in Khagrachhari
Timbers exposed to rain and sun on the premises of Hazachhari range office in Dighinala upazila in Khagrachhari district.Photo: STAR
Seized timber worth about Tk 10 crore, kept under the open sky, is rotting on the premises of various range offices of forest department. The government authorities want to sell seized timber at Kalurghat in Chittagong for high prices while local wood merchants, who want tender calling at the local level, have filed a case with the High Court in this regard. Following introduction of sealed tender system instead of open auction system, timber merchants have lost interest in participation in the bid due to lengthy procedure while small merchants have no chance to participate in the tender or auction, forest department sources said. Khagrachhari Kath Byabosayee Kalyan Samity sources said the timber was seized from the traders although they have legal documents. About Tk 10 crore timber is rotting in the district, said association Secretary General Mohammad Shahaj Uddin. Some 46,434 cubic feet seized wood worth about 6.55 crore has been kept under the open sky in Jamtali range under Dighinala upazila in Khagrachhari district, Deputy Ranger of Chittagong North (Naraichhari range) said. They will call tender to sell the wood after if they get clearance from the court, he said. Deputy Ranger of Merung range, Subash Ranjan Gaine said they have about 5,000 cubic feet wood worth about Tk 70 lakh while there are over 7,000 cubic feet wood worth about Tk 1 crore in Hazachhara Range. Divisional Forest Officer Ali Kabir said the provision for sealed tender was introduced following instruction from the Ministry of Forest and Environment.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments