Chattogram Forestry region has protested the killing of Sajjaduzzaman Sajal, a forester in Cox's Bazar South Forest Division. Protests, human chains, and protest rallies are being held in different forest departments of the port city.
Sajjaduzzaman lost his life after being crushed under a dumper truck while confronting culprits engaged in illegal hill cutting within a reserved forest area in Ukhiya upazila on 31 March.
A long human chain and protest rally was held in front of the office of the Conservator of Forests of Chattogram forest area at Nandan Kanan in Chattogram city on Thursday to protest the killing of Forester Sajal.
Chattogram Region Forest Conservator Bipul Krishna Das presided over the human chain. During the human chain and protest rally, the speakers demanded immediate arrest and maximum punishment for the killers of Forester Sajal who were killed while protecting the forest resources and also demanded compensation of One crore taka to Sajal's family. Besides, all foresters on duty at the field level are also required to be allowed to carry firearms all the time for their safety.
Chattogram Region Forest Conservator Bipul Krishna Das said Forester Sajal was an honest, efficient, well-educated, smart officer of the Forest Department. He was killed by forest bandits while protecting forest resources. He was killed by a dumper. We have lost the language to protest this incident. This incident shows how much insecurity the forest officials are showing to protect the forest and forest resources in the remote hills at the risk of their lives.
Forest Conservator Bipul Krishna Das immediately demanded the arrest of those involved in the murder of forester Sajjaduzzaman Sajal and ensured maximum punishment.
Member Secretary of Bangladesh Foresters Association (BFA) Khan Zulfikar Ali said that Sajjaduzzaman Sajal, a beat officer working in Dochhari beat of Ukhia Range of Cox's Bazar South Forest Division, was brutally killed by miscreants while protecting the forest and forest resources. Attacks by miscreants often occur in forest areas. Forest workers are losing their lives, and many forest workers are also getting injured. There are only one or two people in each forest who have to perform their duties 24 hours a day; they have no logistical support, no necessary weapons, and no legal protection.
But inside the forest, there are many influential people in the country, including the terrible terrorist forces, forest bandits, and land bandits. Forest department personnel are risking their lives to protect the forest while fighting against these terrorist forces. The latest victim of this is Forester Md. Sazzaduzzaman Sajal, Bit Officer of Cox's Bazar South Forest Division.
The Bangladesh Foresters Association has presented 11-point demands, including the demand for quick arrest of Sajal's killers in this incident.
The demands include one-time compensation of Tk 1 crore to Sajal's family, employment of Sajal's wife in the forest department according to her educational qualifications, and permission to carry revolvers and firearms at all times for the safety of all foresters on the field..
Chattogram North Forest Divisional Officer SM Kaisar, Coastal Forest Divisional Officer Belayet Hossain, Chattogram South Forest Divisional Officer Abdullah Al Mamun, Divisional Officer of Planning and Management Department Kajal Talukder, Forest Guard Welfare Association Chattogram Former President Mustafa Jamal, Current General Secretary Mostafa Kamal, forest officers-employees in charge of various forest areas, including forest rangers, foresters, deputy foresters, and forest guards of all forest divisions of Chattogram forest region participated in the human chain.