Eviction drive reclaims 5 acres of reserved forest at Kamalganj

 
KAMALGANJ, MOULVIBAZAR, July 17: The Forest Department, with support from the local administration and police, has reclaimed around five acres of illegally occupied reserved forest land in Moulvibazar's Kamalganj Upazila during a joint eviction drive.

The operation was carried out on Thursday morning in the Kalinji settlement area under the Adampur Beat of the Rajkandi Range. Officials said the reclaimed land had been under illegal occupation for years and was being used for commercial cultivation.

Assistant Commissioner (Land) Riaz Mahmud supervised the drive, while officials of the Forest Department and members of Kamalganj Police Station participated in the operation.

According to the Forest Department, an influential group had encroached on the reserved forest and established commercial plantations of malta, pineapple, lemon and areca nut. The plantations were removed during the drive, and the land was restored to the Forest Department's possession.

Authorities also demolished two makeshift bamboo-and-polythene structures and a watchman's shed built inside the forest area. In addition, an illegally constructed embankment around a natural waterbody was removed to restore its normal water flow, a move officials said would help protect the forest ecosystem and biodiversity.

The Forest Department said the government is pursuing a zero-tolerance policy against encroachment on reserved forests to protect natural habitats, wildlife and biodiversity. It added that surveillance would be strengthened to prevent future illegal occupation of the reclaimed land.

Rajkandi Range Officer and Assistant Conservator of Forests Pritam Barua said legal proceedings under the Forest Act are being initiated against those involved in the encroachment.

He also said the recovered land would be brought under afforestation as part of the government's priority programme to plant 250 million trees in five years.

Environmentalists welcomed the eviction drive, saying such initiatives are vital for protecting reserved forests, conserving biodiversity, restoring natural water bodies and maintaining ecological balance. They also stressed that strict legal action against forest encroachers would help deter future illegal occupation.