Punishing killers of forest officer will set example: Saber

Punishing the killers of forest officer Md Sazzaduzzaman will set an example for hill cutters, Forests and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury said today (7 April).

On 31 March, Sazzaduzzaman died after being run over by a dumper truck while trying to stop a hill earth stealing racket in Ukhiya, Cox's Bazar. 

"By killing the forest officer in a planned manner, the hill cutters wanted to send a message that anyone who obstructed them would be removed from their path. We also want to set a precedent by prosecuting the killers," Saber Hossain said after meeting with the family of the slain forest official. 

"No one involved in this murder will be spared. Those involved will be prosecuted in such a way that no one would even think of doing such things in the future," he said, adding that the murderers have already been identified with one being arrested.  

"We are trying our best to arrest them. I am in regular contact with the superintendent of police of the district. Soon it will be possible to bring all the accused under the law," Saber Hossain said. 

The minister handed over a cheque of Tk10 lakh on behalf of the Forest Department and Tk5 lakh from the ministry's fund to the deceased's family in Vitikandi village of Ghajaria upazila in Munshiganj yesterday. 

He also promised to secure a job for Mumtahena Sumi, the wife of Sazzaduzzaman.