One guard for 2000 acres of forest land in Mirsarai
Anwarul Haque Nizami, Mirsarai (Chittagong)
There are about 33,000 acres of forest land under four ranges in Mirsarai, Chittagong.
Forest officials are struggling to protect this vast forest land due to insufficient weapons and manpower. In addition, forest guards are not able to reach the spot quickly due to the lack of pick-up vans. As a result, forest land is being encroached upon. Various structures, including concrete buildings, are being built on reserve forest land.
According to sources from the Karerhat Range, there are 14,370 acres of forest land under the Karerhat Range. Although there are supposed to be 15 forest guards guarding this vast forest land, there are only 7. There are 2 Chinese rifles and 3 shotguns. Although there are 2 motorcycles in the forest guard, one has already become useless.
Karerhat Range Officer Tarekur Rahman said, "We are struggling to guard this huge area with half the manpower in Karerhat Range. Besides, in places where there is no good transportation, if we get news of encroachment or cutting of trees, the forest robbers flee before we reach them."
There is 2,279.81 acres of forest land under the Alinagar range of Karerhat. There is only one forest guard in this range, which is adjacent to the Indian border. There are no weapons. There is only a board for patrolling the Feni river.
Alinagar Range Officer Monayem Hossain said, "Alinagar Range is very risky as it is on the Indian border. But there is only one forest guard here. Besides, the range office has also become risky."
There are only 5 guards protecting 12,937 acres of forest land under Mirsarai Range. There are 3 bits. The bits are Hinguli, Zorarganj and Govaniya. There are 2 forest guards in each bit. But there are no vehicles. However, there are no vehicles. There are 3 shot guns.
Mirsarai Range Officer Al Amin said, "We don't have any vehicles. As a result, it is very difficult to go on operations."
Meanwhile, there is a bet in Mirsarai under the Bariyar Dhala range. This bet, called Baratakia, has a total forest land of 3,300 acres. There are 2 forest guards here. There are 3 Chinese rifles. However, there are no vehicles.
Baratakia Bit Officer Arun Roy said, Baratakia Bit is under the Barayardhala Range. There is about 3523 acres of forest land here. There are 2 forest guards.
It is learnt that 33,000 acres of forest land under the 4 ranges of the upazila has valuable trees of various species including teak, mahogany, and akashi. But a syndicate of forest robbers cuts down these valuable trees in the dark of night. Not only that, illegal structures are being built by occupying the forest. Many times, when forest guards try to evict these illegal structures, they face the wrath of the locals. Since they do not have a pick-up van, they cannot reach the spot quickly with multiple guards.
When asked about this, Harun Or Rashid, Assistant Conservator of Forests of Chittagong North Forest Division, said, "Our 4 ranges are running with half the manpower. We are struggling to protect this vast forest land with half the manpower. Yet our forest officials are working tirelessly. It is very important to provide all the equipment including manpower recruitment."
