Trees are being cut without permits in Sona Mia Ghona, Sultanpur Union of Bandarban. This photo was taken recently. Photo: Messenger
The unlawful felling of trees for commercial purposes in the picturesque Bandarban hilly terrain is on the rise, disregarding government regulations. According to existing rules, the cutting of trees in gardens for commercial use is strictly prohibited without prior approval or permits from the Forest Department.
The rampant violation of these rules is causing a significant loss of revenue for the government. Sources within the Bandarban Forest Department have indicated that the department aims to issue two permits per month within each designated range.
However, several ranges are unable to meet this target consistently. In the last five months, no permits have been issued in the Bandarban Sadar range, mainly due to delays in the application process. Garden owners are applying for permits, but the applications are not reaching the forest department in a timely manner.
The permit application process typically starts at the district administration level and then proceeds through various related offices until reaching the forest department. After an on-site inspection, the forest department is responsible for issuing the final permit. The permit strictly limits tree felling to designated plantations, with no provision for trees from other gardens to be included.
Despite these stringent regulations, the unauthorized destruction of gardens continues unabated without permits. Timber is stockpiled in both legal and illegal depots, with the illicit inclusion of stockpiled timber into permits by unscrupulous Dhurandhar timber traders.
One glaring example of this illegal activity was witnessed in the Sona Mia Ghona area of Sultanpur Jame Masjid in Ward 1 of Sualak Union under the Bandarban Sadar Range. On a Saturday afternoon, a group of 8-10 laborers was observed cutting teak and Gamma trees from a plantation. The workers were cutting trees into pieces, some as long as seven to eight feet, while others collected the chopped wood bark.
When questioned, the laborers disclosed that they were working under the employ of an individual named Kamal, who was overseeing the illegal cutting of garden trees. Over the course of approximately three weeks, hundreds of trees had been felled, ranging in size from 10-12 inches to a towering 35-40 inches.
It was revealed that more teak wood was scheduled to be transported later that evening, typically carried under the cover of darkness. The wood was being stored in Nazir Ahmad's wood depot near the tee board, and the laborers estimated that it would take another 10-12 days to clear the entire two-acre garden.
Locals in the area claimed that Kamal had been engaged in an illegal timber business for an extended period, using a legitimate permit as a facade. They alleged that the Forest Department officials were complicit, receiving commissions from wood smugglers through an intermediary named Raja Mia. At Sona Mia Ghona, the wood from Helal's garden was being stored in a depot in front of the tee board, as stated by residents.
Kamal admitted to felling trees without a permit but argued that he had purchased the trees from the garden owner for his furniture shop. However, he denied keeping wood in the depot.
Notably, Raja Mia's statement could not be obtained due to an absence of a mobile number.
Sultan Mahmud Howladar, the Range Officer of Bandarban Forest Division's Sadar range, suggested seeking further information on these issues. He revealed that Raja Mia served as an outsourcing forester in charge of the Sultanpur-Swalak area.
To gain a deeper understanding of the situation, the Divisional Forest Officer of the Forest Department in Bandarban, Abdur Rahman, promised a thorough investigation into the matter and confirmed that they would send a range officer to the scene on the following Sunday.
Messenger/Teeng/Disha
