The Chattogram North Forest Department has started a special operation to prevent illegal smuggling of forest products and timber worth Tk 1.5 crore including teak were seized in the 9 months while being smuggled out of different destinations of various roads with metropolitan city.
The seized forest products and vehicles have been kept at Kalurghat Government Timber Depot and Check Station.
According to the Chattogram North Forest Department, about 16,000 cubic feet of timber including teak, 2,600 cubic feet of fuel wood, 178 pieces of galleys, 25 pieces wooden doors, 145 other items of wood furniture, 2,240 pieces bamboos, 17 covered vans, 18 trucks, 10 pickups, 7 jeeps, 1 bus, 2 tempos were seized in the nine months from October-June in 2020-21. Moreover, legal action has been taken to evict 50 illegal saw mills set up in different range areas.
These timber-laden vehicles were seized from Dhaka-Chattogram Highway, Rangamati-Chattogram Road, Khagrachhari-Ramgarh-Chattogram Road, Karnafhuli Bridge Road, Kalurghat Bridge Road and other roads in Chattogram city.
Twenty Eight people were arrested in various raids for smuggling of forest products at Dhumghat forest check station, Karerhat bit-cum check station, Fauzdarhat bit check station, Hathazari bit check Station, Raozandhala bit check station and 203 cases have been filed against the detainees in the Chattogram Senior Judicial Magistrate's Court. The current market value of the seized forest products is around Tk 1.5 crore.
Chattogram North Forest Department, Forest Officer Mozammel Haque Shah Chowdhury said that despite the shortage of staff and government vehicles, the Chattogram North Forest Department has intensified drive to curb forest products smuggling.
Traffickers are smuggling timber in triple-covered trucks, mini-trucks, under sand, vegetable-laden carts, brick-laden carts, covered vans to avoid watchful eyes of the men on duty or the crackdown on illegal smuggling of forest products. A joint task force operation including members of RAB-7 is being conducted in sensitive areas.