Staff Reporter :
Rampant illegal occupation of Gazipur’s Shal forests has surged following the July uprising and subsequent disruptions to law and order, with more than 5,000 unauthorized structures—ranging from tin-sheds to multi-storied buildings—erected due to official inaction, according to local sources.
Residents say that although the security situation has since stabilized, forest encroachment continues unabated, shrinking the historic Bhawal Sal forest, displacing wildlife, and threatening biodiversity.
Field investigations and interviews with forest officials and environmental activists reveal widespread irregularities in the documentation of encroachment. The Forest Department has prepared a post-encroachment list, but it reportedly ignores gazetted forest land and focuses only on areas with Revisional Survey (RS) records in its name.
The list is said to be incomplete and flawed, with allegations of bribery influencing the omission of several large encroachers. Ironically, even some who paid bribes during construction have faced eviction.
Many individuals who had already encroached on forest land before August 5 expanded their structures afterward. However, these additions have not been accounted for in the Forest Department’s data, leaving the full scale of post-uprising encroachment undocumented.
Environmentalists have blamed the inexperience of Gazipur’s current Deputy Commissioner and the alleged complicity of corrupt forest officials who, they claim, profited during the post-uprising land grab. Despite serious allegations, these officials have reportedly received favorable postings instead of facing disciplinary action.
Surveys show a clear mismatch between official records and on-ground realities. In Bhabanipur Beat alone, while the department lists 451 new structures, locals report over 700. In Chandura Beat, more than 2,500 structures have emerged since August 5, though only 1,326 are officially listed. Similar discrepancies have been noted in Boupura, Kachighata, and Sripur beats.
Moreover, at least 182 commercial establishments—including factories and resorts—have been set up within the forest zone. Yet, the Forest Department has taken minimal action to evict them. Environmentalists allege selective enforcement and poor planning in eviction drives, which often provoke resistance and clashes.
Top forest officials declined to comment. However, ASM Zahur Uddin Akon, Regional Forest Conservator of the Central Zone, acknowledged the issue, saying the list of encroachments is under review and that action is part of an “ongoing process.”
