THOUGH the Saw-Mill (Licence) Rules 2012 does not permit setting up or running saw-mills within 10 kilometres of forest areas, a report published in a national English daily said, some dishonest loggers have set up saw-mills deep into the Shal forest in Gazipur and running trade in illegally collected timber. The report said, certain politically influential quarter working in nexus with dishonest forest officials and police personnel are allowing at least 666 illegal saw-mills to function in and around Gazipur forest zone. They are felling trees grown under social forestry projects, besides collecting trees from the deep forest and running the brisk business. Almost every day, an estimated 500 Shal trees are being felled in 50 square kilometres of Bhawal Reserve Forest and other private and planted forests. Inevitably, this appalling trade is making our forest desolate and damaging the environment. It is a matter of serious concern but the local administration is giving a deaf ear and law enforcers are rather lending support to the illegal trade to personally benefit it. We draw the attention of the government to stop the practice and save the forest resources from the hand of dishonest business quarters.
The country has about 17.08 percent (2.52 million ha) of total forestland instead of 25 percent required for healthy ecological balance. The Shal forest represents 4.7 percent of the total forest area of Bangladesh. But the tropical moisture deciduous Shal forest is now victim of huge degradation mainly duty to illegal logging. The Shal forest which originally covered 36 percent of the total forest land of Bangladesh in 1985 is now rapidly dwindling to stand at below only 5 percent at the moment.
Even the Dhaka Divisional Forest Officer admitted that they allowed 47 saw-mills to run in the forbidden area under pressure from politically influential local leaders. But question arises why the administration should succumb to political pressure if they are honest. The government must reign in the local party leaders and workers for the safety of forest resources, otherwise safety of forest will be at great risk in few years to come. News report said a former chief conservator of forest was known as ‘Forest Eater’ and it explains how the entire forestry is being made vulnerable throughout the country in the hand of dishonest officials in a highly corrupt political system.
The existing Forest Act 1927 is having the provisions for six months to 14 years’ imprisonment for illegal trade in timber and felling of forest trees. It proved that it is not enough now to save the forest because police and foresters are not arresting violators any more and properly placing them for prosecution at the court. Rather illegal loggers, police and forest officials are working together and minting money. The question is if existence of saw-mills is not permissible within 10 kilometers of the forest zone why the government has permitted them to be set up and why they are not being shut. We ask the government to take proper steps to save forest.
