The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on Wednesday announced that it has reclaimed over 113 acres of illegally occupied forestland from a shipyard in Sitakunda, demolishing illegal structures and launching an immediate reforestation drive.
According to an official press release issued by the ministry, the operation was carried out in Tulatali mouza under Kattoli Beat of the Sadar Range by the Coastal Forest Division, Chattogram. A total of 113.63 acres of government forestland, listed under BS Khatian No. 01 and Dag No. 494, had been under illegal occupation by Kohinoor Shipyard.
The eviction drive, led by the Assistant Conservator of Forests (Sadar), dismantled a two-storey building and multiple unauthorised structures. Two gates and all remaining built infrastructure on the encroached land were also completely removed.
As part of the immediate reclamation effort, the forest department planted 1,200 saplings, including 600 casuarina (jhau), 400 koromja, and 200 hijol trees, on the recovered land.
The operation, which began early in the day and concluded at 6:30pm, involved 30 officers and staff from the Sadar, Sitakunda, and Mirsarai ranges. They were supported by the Sitakunda upazila administration, Bangladesh Army, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), police, Chattogram City Corporation, and officials from the Power Division – amounting to over a hundred personnel in total.
The ministry stated that the drive was part of the government’s strict “zero tolerance” stance against forest land encroachment. It also warned that such operations will continue across the country to restore and protect public forest resources.
The press release described the initiative as a “decisive move” toward reclaiming state-owned green assets and reinforcing forest protection through coordinated inter-agency efforts.