18 sued over submersion of forest land to create lake in Ctg

The Forest Department has filed five cases against 18 individuals, including the personal assistant of former MP of Chattogram-15 Abu Reza Mohammad Nezamuddin Nadvi, for their alleged involvement in submerging 2,500 acres of forest land to create a lake by erecting a dam on a hilly stream in Satkania upazila of Chattogram.

In addition to initiating legal proceedings, on 3 February, the Chattogram South Forest Department undertook an operation to dismantle the dam at the stream's mouth, intending to restore the natural flow and alleviate the lake's formation.

Barahatia Beat Officer Md Samshul Haq of Chunati Sanctuary Range filed the cases between 29 January and 5 February, with the court of Chattogram Judicial Magistrate-6, Nurul Harun.

The court is currently awaiting the receipt of the Prosecution's Official Report (POR) for these cases, as confirmed by the court's bench assistant, Mohammad Shahed.

In the case filed on 3 February, Erfanul Karim, personal assistant to the former Member of Parliament for the Satkania-Lohagara constituency, Abu Reza Muhammad Nezamuddin Nadvi, was made defendant number 1.

Other individuals accused in this case include Nazir Ahmad, 50,; Liton, 32,; Abdul Matlab; and Abul Kalam.

Similarly, on 2 February, two additional cases were filed, implicating Nashir Uddin; Jamal Uddin; and Kamal Uddin.

These individuals have been accused in a case involving the cutting of 4,500 cubic feet of rock and the accumulation of 2,100 cubic feet of soil in piles.

Subsequently, on 4 February, another case was filed, naming Dil Mohammad alias Betto Saudagar, Saiful Islam, Shaha Alam, Abdur Rahim, and Khorshedul Alam as accused individuals.

Finally, on 5 February, 10 more individuals were accused, including Md Nasir Uddin, Manzoor Alam, Dil Mohammad alias Betto Saudagar, Morshed Alam, Saiful Islam, Abdur Rahim, Shaha Alam, Khorshedul Alam, Jamal Uddin, and Kamal Uddin.

Allegations against the accused include trespassing into the forest area and removing soil by cutting hills with a group of 14-15 people.

Subsequently, they established a farm for fish farming, posing a severe threat to the wildlife and biodiversity of the region.

Additionally, illegal fishing activities were conducted in the forest, constituting offences punishable by the law.

During its drive to dismantle the dam, the Forest Department recovered hill-cutting tools, such as spades, baskets, and shovels, from the site where approximately 16,800 cubic feet of hill has been cleared.

The affected area lies between Sonakania union of Satkania and Barahatia union of Lohagara upazila in Chattogram. A 200-feet-long dam constructed on the Sonakania Chhara (hilly stream), measuring 20 feet in width and 100 feet in height, has caused significant ecological damage.

The Forest Department reports that approximately 5 lakh trees of various species, including Gamari, Teak, Chikarashi, and Arjuna, have been irreversibly destroyed.

Construction of the lake began in January 2021 and concluded in March of the same year.