BNP, AL leaders among 20 accused in Satchari tree-felling case

Local leaders of the BNP and Awami League -- whose activities remain banned -- are among 20 people accused in a case filed by the Forest Department over alleged illegal tree felling and timber trading in Satchari National Park in Habiganj's Chunarughat.

Md Mobarak Hossain, range officer of Satchari Wildlife Range, filed the case with Chunarughat Police Station on Tuesday under Sections 26(1A)(b) and (d) of the Forest Act, 1927, as amended in 2000.

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Chunarughat Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Saiful Islam confirmed the filing of the case and said legal action would be taken.

According to the case statement, trees were illegally felled from the reserved forest in Paikpara union between January 12 last year and May 15 this year. The felled trees were then stolen and traded, it said.

The case was filed based on a confidential intelligence report that identified 20 people allegedly involved in tree felling, theft and the trading of stolen timber, Mobarak said.

Maruf Mia, member secretary of Chunarughat upazila Chhatra Dal, has been named the prime accused.

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Spanning 243 hectares, Satchari is considered one of the country's most biodiversity-rich protected areas. Photo: Star

Among the other accused are Shafiqul Islam Abul, president of the Satchari National Park co-management committee and a BNP leader of Shahjahanpur Union in Madhabpur; Shafiq Mia Mahalder, senior joint convener of Chunarughat upazila Jubo Dal; Jahangir Khan, joint convener of the upazila Sramik Dal; Karim Sarkar, organising secretary of upazila BNP; and Mizanur Rahman Sohag, general secretary of Mirashi Union Krishak League.

Several timber traders have also been named in the case.

Mobarak said the case was filed following instructions from the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.

He alleged that the accused had been illegally felling trees and damaging the reserved forest for a long time.

Shafiqul, one of the accused, denied any involvement in tree felling, saying the allegations were aimed at tarnishing his reputation.

"I have no involvement whatsoever. I am a nature lover and have been working on nature and biodiversity for about 20 years," he said, calling for a full and impartial investigation.

Repeated attempts to contact Maruf Mia and the other accused linked to the Awami League were unsuccessful.

Tofazzal Suhel, vice-president of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon's Habiganj unit, said political affiliation should not matter and anyone involved in damaging the forest should be brought to justice.

Sylhet Divisional Forest Officer Abul Kalam said the actual perpetrators would be identified through investigation and brought before the court.

"The Forest Department has a zero-tolerance policy towards tree theft," he said.