Forest ranger beaten by mob after eviction drive in Ctg

Around 200 people allegedly attacked him after drive against illegal structures at Aviary Park

A forest ranger was beaten by a mob following an eviction drive against illegal structures at Aviary and Eco-Park in Rangunia upazila of Chattogram yesterday.

The injured ranger, Mehraj Uddin, is in charge of the Rangunia Forest Range under the Chattogram South Forest Division.

Delwar Hossain, assistant conservator of forests (ACF) at the division, told The Daily Star that around 200 people gathered and attacked Mehraj after the eviction drive. Forest officials later rescued him and took him to the upazila health complex for treatment.

Mehraj said a team of forest officials removed three illegal structures from the picnic spot and parking area of the park around noon as part of a routine drive. They faced resistance during the eviction drive and returned to the range office without completing the operation, he said.

He said that around 1:15pm, a group of people blocked the Chattogram-Kaptai road in protest against the eviction. Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Rangunia Khondker Farzana Naznin Setu later went to the spot and asked him to join her there.

“When I reached the spot, an angry mob attacked me in the presence of the assistant commissioner. Despite her efforts, she could not protect me from the attackers,” Mehraj said.

Mehraj sustained injuries to his forehead, below his right eye, head and shoulder.

The ranger alleged that the attack was led by Anwar and Jahed, along with several others. He claimed that all except Jahed were accused in multiple cases over the illegal occupation of forest land.

Denying the allegation, Anwar Hossain told The Daily Star that forest officials had demolished the homes of a widow and a teacher. They protested because the two were residents of their area, he said, denying that anyone had been beaten.

Another accused, Mohammad Jahed, said the two residents had told them that forest officials had demolished their homes because they had not paid money. They then went to the spot to protest, where hundreds of people had gathered.

Several attempts to contact Farzana Naznin Setu for comment went unanswered.

Rangunia Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Nazmul Hasan confirmed the incident and said the occupants had built structures on forest land and had been using it for a long time.

After the eviction, they gathered more people and blocked the road. The assistant commissioner (land) and other administration officials then went to the spot to control the situation. The crowd beat the forest ranger amid the ensuing tension, he added.

The UNO said the forest department had been asked to take legal action over the incident.

ACF Delwar Hossain also said the forest department would take legal action against those involved in the attack.

Aviary Park was looted after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024, when locals took away hundreds of wild animals, including deer and birds. The park’s cable car, built at a cost of Tk 17 crore, was also damaged during the looting.