Bagerhat Correspondent :
Some 2 thousand 30 Kgs crabs worth Tk.10 lakh collected illegally from the deep forest under Chandpai Forest Range in the Eastern Division of Sundarban forest seized by the Forest Department were sold at a nominal price of Tk.1.80 lakh only in auction in plea of lame excuses by the forest department, according to delayed report received here.
It is alleged that as per the rule of auction, it was not announced publicly and widely and taking the opportunity a local syndicate purchased the crabs with a little amount of Tk.1.80 lakh. As a result, the forest department was deprived from a fat amount of Taka several lakh. But Mahmudul Hasan, DFO (Divisional Forest Officer) of the Eastern division of Sundarban forest (in Bagerhat district) denied all the allegations. It is reported that 2 trawlers procured permit from the forest department to carry fish. But on Monday those trawlers were carrying crabs illegally. Acting on secret information both the forest department and the members of the coastguards jointly raided the area and seized the trawlers on the charge of carrying the crabs illegally. And after guessing the quantity of crabs about 2 thousand 30 kgs forest department decided to sell the crabs in auction. But according to the rules of auction, the forest department did not announce the matter publicly and widely at all.
It is alleged that some businessmen of Bayaddamari bazar and Joymoni bazar formed a syndicate and purchased the crabs at the rate of Tk.90.25 including vat per kg while the normal price of the same is Tk.400.00 to Tk.500.00. As a result, the forest department incurred loss at least Tk.9 lakh.
It is alleged that the syndicate consists of 15/16 business men including Khalek Khan, Ibrahim Khan, Shukur Sardar, Eusuf Shaikh, Mamun Hawladar, Mehedi Jamaddar and Malek Faraji of Bayaddamari area purchased the crabs in auction after making a secret entente with the forest department. A former local UP member Abdul Malek Faraji purchased the crabs worth Tk.10 lakh at Tk.1.80 Lakha only as the highest bidder.
The source disclosed, one of the seized trawlers
belonging to one Rezaul Karim of village Bashtala under Mongla Upazila in Bagerhatg district. It procured permit to carry white fish and the other trawler belonging to Shaikh Md. Abzal under Dakop Upazila in Khulna district.
In this connection Mahmudul Hasan, DFO of the Eastern Division of Sundarban forest said , the process of the auction of crabs was done fairly in presence of Mehedizzaman, Range Officer of Chandpai Forest Range and the local elite.
