In a significant environmental triumph, the forest department successfully reclaimed approximately 2,500 acres of forest land in Chattogram’s Satkania, where a dam had been illicitly constructed by local influencers.
The dedicated team, led by Abdullah Al Mamun, the Divisional Forest Officer of Chattogram South Forest Division, initiated a comprehensive operation from 3:30 pm to 11:30 pm in the Sonakania area under the Forest Division. The mission aimed to dismantle the dam and restore the encroached forest land. The DFO, Abdullah Al Mamun, announced plans to file legal cases against the perpetrators once identified.
The dam, measuring 200 feet in length and 20 feet wide, was constructed by encroachers in 2021 for fish farming, disrupting the natural habitat of the forest, which is home to diverse species of trees and wildlife.
During the operation, numerous farmers, whose crop cultivation had been adversely affected by the dam, expressed their joy as the forest land was reclaimed. Nasir Uddin, one of the accused, claimed they had obtained a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the upazila administration in 2021 to build the dam.
Contrary to this, Ahsan Habib, a former upazila nirbahi officer, refuted these claims, stating, “I didn’t issue any NOC for the construction of a dam on forest land during my tenure.”
This successful recovery of forest land signifies a crucial step towards environmental conservation and underscores the importance of preserving natural habitats. Stay tuned for further updates on legal actions against the culprits and the ongoing efforts to restore and protect our precious forests.
