Lohagara Correspondent :
Chittagong South Forest Officer, Chunti Range and Satgarh Forest Beat Officer have been accused of cutting down 1000 fruit trees and more than 9 fish enclosures for not paying a bribe of Tk 10 lakh.
The victims held a human chain and gathered in Chunti Jangalia Baradepa Ghona area of the upazila last Friday, alleging bribery and cutting fruit trees.
The speakers in the human chain said that the dishonest officials of the forest department have to manage with money to build a shack house and toilet at the place of the forest department. In other cases, it creates obstacles in the work and gives a case.
The interim government has announced zero tolerance against the corrupt.
Chittagong South Forest Officer Md. Delwar Hossain, Chunti Forest Range Officer Mostafizur Rahman and Satgarh Forest Beat Officer. Demanding removal after taking action against Rafiqul Islam as per rules.
They have been harassing in various ways including bribery and corruption. Speakers said that if action is not taken against him within the stipulated time, a strict movement will be launched.
Speaking at the human chain, Md. Zakaria, Habibur Rahman, Md. Ismail, Md. Ayub, Md. Matiur Rahman, Anwar Hossain, Md. Alam member, Abu Saeed, Md. Sohail.
Victim Md. Ismail said, my elder brother Sajeda is the owner of Agro Fees. On our own land, Sajeda is making a living by taking loans from banks in the name of agro-fees and making fish projects. Every year the people of the forest department had to pay different rates. After the fall of the government, they demanded a bribe of 10 lakh rupees as before.
Another victim, Habibur Rahman, said, “My ancestors have also been farming in Baradepa Ghona since the 1920s. Now we are starting farming as well as fishing for livelihood. Didn’t seem to be doing anything to spoil the environment. Suddenly, the people of the forest department took hostages at gunpoint and cut down the fishing nets and fruit trees. If you give bribe everything is possible in the forest department. This is the change today to not paying bribes.
To know about this, Chittagong South Forest Officer Md. Delwar Hossain was called several times on his used mobile but he did not receive.