His last byline: Reserve forest cleared to make room for farming

Rangabali forest being destroyed after dist admin leased out the land

Some 200-300 trees have been chopped down in a reserved forest at Char Signboard in Patuakhali’s Rangabali to make way for watermelon cultivation.

Forest officials say an excavator is also being used to build an embankment there.

The Forest Department has filed two cases and a general diary (GD) with police over the destruction. 

Yet, work has continued despite objections from forest officials, who allege obstruction and threats.

The problem arose after the district administration last year leased out 30 acres inside the reserved forest for two years.

The Forest Department has twice asked the district administration to cancel the lease, arguing that the land lies within a protected forest area.

According to Forest Department sources, 415 acres at Char Signboard were declared a reserved forest on April 4, 2010. Mangrove species were planted there, including jhau trees, across around 25 acres in the 2021-22 fiscal year.

Amir Hossain, a forest officer of Rangabali Range, said that the leaseholders, Arif Mir and Manik Molla, cut trees from a jhau plantation to prepare the land for watermelon farming.

Although the two cases are pending with court, work on the embankment began on October 17, allegedly under Arif Mir’s direction, he said.

“After receiving reports that 200-300 chaila, keora, and jhau trees had been uprooted, forest officials tried to stop the work but failed,” he said.

The department lodged a GD with Rangabali Police Station on October 17, naming three people, including Arif and Manik. 

Arif Mir denied attempting to grab forest land. “We have taken out a lease of government land,” he said. He refused to produce the lease document or disclose how much he had paid.

This correspondent obtained a document issued to 25 farmers by the Rangabali upazila land office on October 13, 2025, bearing the signature of a former upazila nirbahi officer (UNO). The document “allows” farming for one season or one year and states that the document cannot be used as an official government document in court.

Rangabali UNO Nazmul Hasan said no such permission had been granted since he took office.

“I do not know how the land was leased out. However, an initiative has been taken to identify forest land and khas land in consultation with the forest department and the leaseholders,” he said, adding that action would be taken if anyone had cut trees.

In a letter dated October 15, Divisional Forest Officer Mohammad Zahidur Rahman Mia asked the deputy commissioner to cancel the lease and warned that it could threaten the forest, wildlife, biodiversity and surrounding mangrove ecosystem.

Abdul Qaiyum, additional deputy commissioner (revenue) of Patuakhali, said the administration was examining the Forest Department’s letter.

“We are verifying the information and will take action in accordance with the rules. We will also investigate whether there were any irregularities in granting permission for cultivation in the past,” he said.