Residents of Nalitabari in Sherpur allege that reserved forest land in the Garo Hills is being grabbed and trees felled indiscriminately, with a gang cutting trees at night without Forest Department permission and moving the timber by day, helped, they claim, by some forest staff.

The Gopalpur beat of Mymensingh Sadar range covers 2,003.79 acres of forest. Once-dense forest around Kalakuma, Jangaliapara, Bishgiripara and Anandabazar has been cleared over the years, leaving stumps, settlements or farmland. At Kalakuma Baoibadha, an acacia plantation on about 30 decimals of Forest Department land was allegedly seized, felled and replanted with mahogany.

Social-forestry partners also allege that, on the promise of cheques for their contractual share of tree-sale proceeds, Tk 2,000 each was taken from 100 partners of the '91 plantation', Tk 200,000 in all, and Tk 297,000 in two instalments from 66 partners of the '90 plantation', yet the cheques have not come.

Locals accuse Gopalpur beat officer Abdul Bari of complicity. He denied taking money for cheques, saying they had heard of tree theft and were preparing cases.

Mymensingh divisional forest officer Kazi Muhammad Nurul Karim said any complaint would be investigated and action taken. Residents want encroachment removed, felling stopped and an impartial inquiry to protect what is left of the Garo Hills forest.

This report is based on information from Amader Somoy's Sherpur correspondent Tapu Sarkar Harun.

Source: Amader Somoy