As part of an initiative to restore the Madhupur Sal (locally known as the ‘sal’ tree) forest by improving the relationship between the Forest Department and the indigenous forest dwellers residing in the forest, in accordance with a decision dated 4 December 2025, the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, Tangail, conducted the first case hearing in the Forest Court on Wednesday, according to a press statement.
During the hearing, the accused indigenous communities residing in Madhupur National Park appeared before the court.
The Forest Case Director of Tangail Forest Department informed the court during the hearing about the decision of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change regarding 231 accused members of the indigenous community and 156 local Bengalis involved in 88 cases.
The Special Magistrate of Tangail Forest Court, Md Minhaj Uddin Faraji, took the matter into consideration, withdrew the 88 forest cases, and acquitted the 387 individuals accused in the cases.
It is hoped that with the withdrawal of the 88 forest cases, restoration of the Sal forest will become much easier through cooperation with the indigenous forest community residing in Madhupur.
