For decades, the Tengragiri reserved forest has stood as a natural barrier protecting Bangladesh’s coastal communities from cyclones, storm surges and strong winds. Today, the vast green landscape in Taltali upazila of Barguna is facing a different threat — the steady loss of its trees.
The sound of falling trees is replacing the quiet of the Tengragiri reserved forest in Barguna’s Taltali upazila, as a once-protective green barrier for the coastal region faces allegations of unchecked destruction.
Several active gangs are allegedly cutting down valuable trees and smuggling timber from the forest in collusion with dishonest Forest Department officials, while the department remains silent despite an ongoing deforestation spree.
Local residents say they have been forced to watch the destruction helplessly. They allege that those who protest against tree felling are threatened with being implicated in illegal tree-cutting cases.
A forest born from the Sundarbans
According to Forest Department sources, the Tengragiri forest covers 13,644 acres. Naturally formed over time, the forest was once part of the Sundarbans.
Following a survey under the Forest Act, 1927, Tengragiri was declared a reserved forest on July 12, 1960. It was officially named Tengragiri Forest in 1967. Known as the “second Sundarbans”, the green-covered forest serves as a sanctuary for coastal biodiversity and wildlife.
The forest contains various species of trees, including gewa, jam, dhundul, keora, sundari, bain, karamcha, kewa, tal, kankra, bonkathal, raintree, hetal, tambulkata and goran.
It is also home to several wildlife species, including squirrels, monkeys, 40 species of snakes, porcupines, wild boars, turtles, foxes and jungle fowl.
Trees felled in broad daylight
A visit to the forest found evidence of a long-running illegal tree-cutting operation.
Recently, trees were being cut openly in broad daylight in front of the Chokina Beat Officer’s office. The gangs allegedly cut down trees, tie the logs to trawlers and transport them through river routes without fear.
The same situation was seen in the area adjacent to the Nolbunia Beat Office, where valuable trees are allegedly being removed one after another.
The ‘Shuvo Sondha’ sea beach tourist area has also become a target for timber gangs, with trees being cut down from the forest.
According to observations from the spot, the gangs transport timber under the cover of night and leave many felled trees inside the forest to remove later at a convenient time.
They allegedly uproot tree trunks and roots after cutting trees to erase evidence and traces of theft.
Within the last three to four days alone, around 200 forest trees were found cut down and removed from nearly one kilometre of forest area in the Shuvo Sondha sea beach zone.
Fear keeps locals silent
Local residents Md Rifat and Babul Hawlader said they could not speak out despite witnessing the destruction of the forest.
They alleged that Forest Department officials threaten to file tree-cutting cases against anyone who protests, forcing locals to remain silent out of fear.
Sonakata resident and college student Al Amin Hossain said he often visits Tengragiri with friends and regularly sees forest bandits cutting down and taking away trees.
He said he contacted the Forest Department several times to inform them about the matter, but officials never came to the forest.
Meanwhile, tourists Rahi Islam, Shamim Hossain and Ajoy Das, who visited the Tengragiri Wildlife Sanctuary, said animals such as deer, monkeys and squirrels could be seen in the forest.
They said wildlife runs around in panic when trees are cut inside the forest.
“Trees are being cut down and carried away openly from the reserved forest during the day, but there is no trace of the Forest Department. If this continues, the forest and its wildlife will be destroyed,” they said.
‘Forest protects coastal communities’
Arifur Rahman, coordinator of the Taltali branch of environmental organisation ‘Dharitri Rokkhay Amra (DHORA)’, said the Tengragiri forest acts as a natural shield protecting coastal residents from cyclones, storm surges and strong winds.
He warned that continued deforestation would destroy the environmental balance and expose coastal settlements to extreme disaster risks.
“Bandits are cutting down and taking away trees in collusion with the Forest Department itself,” he alleged.
Officials acknowledge tree cutting
When contacted for comments regarding the tree-cutting allegations, Nolbunia Beat Officer Md Shawon declined to make any statement.
However, Md Ziaul Islam, Taltali Range Officer of the Forest Department, confirmed that illegal tree cutting had taken place.
He said he found evidence of tree felling during an on-site inspection and that a case had been filed to take legal action over the incident.
Taltali Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Atish Sarkar said the Forest Department had been informed and warned several times about the deforestation issue and had been asked to take necessary action.
