The battle against deforestation in Bangladesh's northern region is faltering, with reports indicating that influential groups, local political representatives, and government-affiliated leaders are encroaching on protected state forest land.
This forest land grabbing, combined with a lack of rainfall and existing environmental challenges, is worsening the region's drought conditions, according to environmentalists.
During a recent visit, it was observed that a widespread spree of forest land grabbing is taking place within the social forest division's lands in Dinajpur and Rangpur.
Locals report that the social forest division has been largely inactive. However, the Social Forest Division, Dinajpur, claims to be making significant efforts to reclaim the encroached lands.
Local leaders involved, police indifferent
The Social Forest Division, Dinajpur oversees social forests in Thakurgaon, Panchagarh, and Dinajpur districts.
Authorities state that nearly 32 per cent of the division's forest land has been occupied over the past two decades, resulting in the loss of traditional forests. Despite numerous lawsuits against the encroachers, their activities continue unabated.
They further stated that Rafiqul Islam Shah and his son Ariful Islam Shah, both local government-affiliated leaders, have been engaged in farming activities on 30 acres of state forest land in Harirampur Mouza of Parbatipur Upazila, following the deforestation of the area. Another ruling party worker, Anwar Hossain, has occupied 16 acres of land.
Madhyapara Forest Range Officer Uzzal Ahmed informed The Business Post that there are 33 ongoing cases against Rafiqul Islam, Ariful Islam, and others for forest land encroachment in Harirampur Mouza.
He said that police negligence has exacerbated the crisis and that proposals have recently been submitted to the district administration for police security to intensify operations against the encroachers within the next month.
Forest land lost to encroachment, farming
During a recent visit, it was revealed that over a hundred acres of land in nearby areas such as Khagraband, Madhyapara, Gurguri, and Kushdaha have been occupied after the trees were cut down. These forest lands are now being used to cultivate crops like maize and rice. Encroachers have even sold the forest land to others.
According to the Social Forest Division, Dinajpur, more than 6,000 acres of land in the eight upazilas of Dinajpur district have been encroached upon, which constitutes one-third of the district's total forest area. Only 526 acres have been recovered in the past seven years.
Moreover, out of the total 19,112 acres of forest land across 13 upazilas, about 6,118 acres have been occupied by around 6,800 individuals. These encroachers have set up markets, shops, resorts, agricultural farms, educational institutions, homes, croplands, grazing areas, gardens, playgrounds, cemeteries, mosques, temples, and factories on the forest land.
In Birol Upazila, about 346 acres of forest land have been encroached upon. Similarly, 27 acres in Bochaganj Upazila, 205 acres in Birganj Upazila, 59 acres in Fulbari, 3,952 acres in Nawabganj, 415 acres in Birampur, and 414 acres in Ghoraghat have been occupied. There are 348 ongoing lawsuits against these encroachers.
Residents of Dinajpur and Rangpur regions report that some government officials are taking bribes to avoid taking strong actions against forest land grabbers. This corruption allows the illegal activities to go on, exacerbating the problem and hindering efforts to protect and reclaim the encroached forest land.
National parks not spared
Under the Social Forest Division, Dinajpur, there are four national parks- Singra, Birganj, Ramsagar, and Nawabganj. Except for Ramsagar, the lands of the other parks have not been spared from encroachment.
The Madhyapara Forest Range office reported that out of the 132 acres of land in Harirampur Mouza, only 2 acres remain, half of which have had their trees cut down.
Almost every range and beat area under the Social Forest Division, Dinajpur has been encroached upon. The most significant encroachment in the district has occurred in Nawabganj, with 3,952 acres of land occupied by 654 individuals.
Forest land grabbing in Badarganj Upazila under Rangpur Social Forest Division is also continuing at an alarming rate.
This The Business Post reporter observed the same concerning situation in villages such as Dalua, Khagraband, Lohanipara, Kalupara, Osmanpur, and Mahadipur.
Environmentalists warn that if the encroached forest lands are not recovered quickly, it will be impossible to maintain environmental balance. Deforestation is leading to desertification, causing droughts even during the rainy season in Dinajpur and Rangpur regions.
Dinajpur Divisional Forest Officer Md Rafiquzzaman Shah told The Business Post that a list of nearly 6,800 individuals involved in encroachment has been compiled, and 348 lawsuits are ongoing.
He emphasised that despite the influence of the encroachers, they will not be spared, but public awareness is essential for success.
