Illegal timber trade causes environmental havoc  

Timber traders in Bandarban are wreaking havoc on the environment by cutting hills and damming Jhiri, a small stream, to smuggle wood and firewood for brick kilns without proper permission.

Forest regulations mandate obtaining permission from the concerned organization before cutting any forest trees, whether owned by individuals, companies, or government and private institutions. However, it is alleged that in this case, such regulations were ignored. Locals express frustration over dishonest businessmen taking advantage of lax supervision, allowing these crimes to occur unchecked.

In Renganpara, an excavator operated by the union chairman is cutting roads to smuggle firewood from the forest garden leased by the District Government to Meridian. Simultaneously, in Chinipara under the Tongkabati range, the foot of the hill is being excavated to create roads for wood smuggling by Md Abdus Shukkur of Kalauzhan Union.

Approximately 50 km from the district town, at the end of the Chinipara road in Tongkabati Union, a bridge spans the colorful canal, where excavators are found cutting into the foot of the hill. Dams have been constructed at seven locations in the waterfall, altering the landscape to accommodate vehicular traffic. Elephant footprints and signs of elephants pulling trees from the surrounding forest are evident.

In Renganpara, Meridian Company's garden witnesses the cutting of various tree species. According to locals, the chairman of Sarai Union Parishad, Md. Idris, is involved in cutting trees and hills for Meridian Company. The wood from this garden is stockpiled, and road construction with excavators is underway.

Upon inquiry, it is revealed that the firewood from Meridian Company's orchards is supplied to Madina Bix Manufacture (MBM) brick kiln in Putibila Lakdipara. The kiln is jointly managed by Idris, Nurul Alam Riku, Rafiq Ahmed, and the late Faruq's family. However, a guard post for Doluchari beet in the Kazupara market poses a potential obstacle on the route from the garden to the kiln.

Recent Cyclone Midhili disrupted the work temporarily, leaving excavators and workers behind. Abdus Sukkur of Kalauzhan is acknowledged to be cutting orchards in the barren forest.

Idris, the chairman of Sarai Union Parishad, claims he is financing the road construction in Meridian's garden area with his own money as part of a project for Bengpara under the 40-day program. However, project implementation officer Monirul Islam refutes this claim, stating that there is no such project in Sarai Union's 40-day agenda.

Ariful Haque Belal, Lama Divisional Forest Officer, expresses uncertainty about a valid permission to cut gardens in Sarai Union. He pledges to take action against illegal fuelwood vehicles passing the Kazupara market guard post.

The Divisional Officer of Bandarban Forest Department, Abdur Rahim, confirms the absence of permission to cut gardens in North Khedar Rham and promises action against those involved. Fakhruddin Chowdhury, the assistant director of the Department of Environment, Bandarban, asserts that no concession will be given to those cutting roads without permission, and enforcement cases will be filed after on-site visits.