Forest officials seized 20 cubic feet of illegal timber during a raid in the Thaingkhali Forest Beat area of Ukhiya on Monday night.
The operation was conducted around 11:30pm based on secret information.
Thaingkhali Forest Beat Officer Arafat Mahmud confirmed the seizure to the TIMES of Bangladesh. “We conducted the raid based on secret information and managed to seize 20 cubic feet of illegal timber of various species,” he said, noting that the seized timber is now in the forest department’s custody.
According to forest department sources, a team led by Md Shahinur Rahman Shahin, the assistant conservator of forests (ACF) and Ukhiya range officer, and including Thaingkhali forest beat officer carried out the drive. The timber was recovered from various locations within the forest beat area where it had been illegally stockpiled.
However, no arrests were made as the individuals involved in the smuggling fled the scene upon sensing the officials’ arrival.
ACF Shahin stated that a syndicate had been harvesting trees from the Ukhiya reserved forest. He added that the authorities are working to identify those involved in the smuggling ring and are preparing to file a case against them under the forest laws.
The forest official further emphasised that such operations will continue in an effort to protect forest resources and prevent the illegal trafficking of timber.
