Trees from the remote area of Bandarban are being felled by a large number. Stone extraction from creeks of the district is going on in full swing. Local Administration is yet to take any major action.
At first glance, it seems that huge development work is going on. Because huge roads have been built by cutting rmbankment in different places. Boli Para, Ward 4, Bandarban Sadar Upazila, Tankabati Union, is located in a remote area, approximately 4 km from Sualak-Lama Road. The Dakshin Hangor Canal's tributary streams and Badamya steams have huge natural reserves of stones in the area.
According to the locals, stones are being extracted illegally from these areas and trees are being pulled by elephants without permission permits of district administration and forest department. These trees are being smuggled by truck during the day and at night in the neighboring Chattogram district’s Lohagara upazila. Locals are fearing an environmental catastrophe as a result of deforestation and quarrying.
It can be seen that a huge road has been constructed along the Dakshin Hangor canal with 14 small and big dams in the canal for about 4 km just to transport the trees and stones. There are piles of stones and piles of trees all over the road. Locals say trees are smuggled by truck during the day and stones at night. Talking to two workers named Ruhul Quader and Abdur Rahim, it was learned that 6 workers had come from Chakaria and Lohagara to cut down trees. When asked about the piles of stones, they said they did not know about the stones in the area. The workers also said that the trees were pulled from the hill by two elephants. There are two elephants named Mannan and Qutub. Renrao Mro, a resident of Boli Para village, said some workers have been cutting down trees and removing stones for 7-8 days. During the day and night, the trees are loaded into the truck. Boli Para Karbari Danrui Mro said there are 26 Mro families in the neighborhood, 8 families in the neighborhood have received the Prime Minister's gift house.
Pierre Mro, headman of Dakshin Hangor Mouza, said he had sold his garden to a man named Abdur Rahim, who was responsible for getting permission from the district administration and forest department. He also said that he was not aware of the smuggling by cutting stones and lifting stones from the road.
The newly elected chairman of Tankabati Union, Mangyong Mro, said that the road from Ranjupara to Balipara was built last year. On a first glance, it can be assumed that a big highway project in going on the area conducted by the government. But in reality, a trader illegally cut this road to take away illegal trees and stones.
When asked about illegal logging and cutting of stones, cutting of hills, construction of roads with canals and dams, Md Abdur Rahim admitted that he had built the road for the convenience of the locals, adding that no trees were being cut from the forest or protected forest. He denied using elephants to pull down trees.
When contacted, Moinuddin, Tankabati Range Officer of the Forest Department, said, "We have received the news and already started proceedings for the operation."
Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Mohammad Saidul Islam said that appropriate legal action would be taken against the culprits.
