An armed group of miscreants cut down a large number of trees from the Rema–Kalenga Reserved Forest in Chunarughat upazila of Habiganj after firing blank shots and intimidating forest guards late at night.
According to forest department sources, the incident took place around 3:30am on Thursday night when a group of around 50 to 60 people entered the forest through the Himonia Bazar area. Shortly after entering the forest, they fired several shots into the air, creating panic among the on-duty forest guards.
When the guards attempted to approach the area, the attackers reportedly fired towards them as well. Being outnumbered and concerned for their safety, the guards were forced to retreat. Taking advantage of the situation, the miscreants cut down at least 20 to 25 valuable trees, including teak and akashmoni, and fled the scene using tractors.
Rema–Kalenga Range Officer Abdul Khaleque said only three forest guards were on duty at the time of the incident, while the attackers were organised and equipped with modern cutting tools. “Using power saws, they were able to cut trees within a very short time,
Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) of Habiganj, Md Zainal Abedin, confirmed the incident and said manpower shortage remains a major challenge in protecting such a vast forest area. “Some of the felled trees have been recovered. We are assessing the extent of damage and taking necessary steps in coordination with law enforcement agencies,
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Chunarughat Police Station Shafiqul Islam said police are working closely with the forest department regarding the incident.
“We are collecting information and trying to identify those involved. Necessary steps will be taken as per the situation,
Spread over around 1,800 acres, the Rema–Kalenga Reserved Forest is one of the country’s important forest ecosystems. However, repeated incidents of illegal logging and armed activities have raised serious concerns about its security. Local observers say strengthening patrols and increasing manpower are crucial to prevent such incidents in the future.
