Forest officials tasked with protecting the Inani range in Ukhiya Upazila under the Cox’s Bazar South Forest Division are facing grave allegations of large-scale deforestation, hill cutting, illegal land sales and an organised bribery network operating with impunity.
Local sources allege that over the past three years, a syndicate led by Inani Range Officer Md Firoz-Al-Amin colluded with figures linked to the former Awami League government to systematically destroy forestland, while senior forest authorities remained mysteriously silent despite being aware of the activities.
According to residents of Monkhali, Rajapalong, Jaliapalong and Chowan Khali beats, illegal tree felling, destruction of casuarina plantations, hill cutting to create flat land, encroachment and sale of forest plots, operation of sawmills, sand and soil extraction, and construction of new houses inside forest areas have become routine.
They claim that several beat officers of the Inani range are directly involved in running the syndicate, which allegedly collects bribes at fixed rates for different illegal activities.
Locals say building a new house inside forestland requires payments ranging from Tk50,000 to Tk100,000, while setting up betel leaf farms costs between Tk20,000 and Tk40,000, and trafficking forest timber or casuarina trees involves bribes of Tk30,000 to Tk50,000.
They further allege that selling forestland can cost up to Tk100,000 in bribes, while sawmills are allowed to operate in exchange for monthly payments of Tk5,000 to Tk10,000.
Residents claim that those who refuse to pay are harassed through cases filed under forest laws, particularly in matters involving sand and soil extraction or land grabbing.
Eyewitnesses who recently visited the Jaliapalong beat said vast forest areas have been cleared and entire hills cut down to make way for multi-storey buildings, with dredging machines used in some places to flatten hills completely.
They said social forestry areas are being destroyed in plain sight, while Rajapalong beat officials allegedly remain inactive despite repeated complaints from locals.
Sources allege that at least 2,000 casuarina trees have been felled and sold from the Inani beat alone, with each tree sold for around Tk3,000 through arrangements involving beat and range officials.
Residents of Rajapalong report similar destruction, saying large hills have been cut to build concrete structures, while forestland has been converted into betel leaf farms and private gardens.
They claim the situation in other beats under the Inani range is no different.
An investigation found that at least four labourers died in hill-cutting incidents over the past three years, while two elephants were killed and the habitats of countless wild animals destroyed due to deforestation.
Environmentalists warn that the unchecked destruction has placed the area’s ecological balance under severe threat.
Sources say the Inani range covers nearly 17,000 hectares, including 2,933.61 hectares designated on paper as Sheikh Jamal National Park, though locals say the park has virtually ceased to exist in reality.
They allege that the park was once placed under the control of a senior Awami League leader, during which century-old trees were cut down and sold.
A resident of Jaliapalong’s Jumma Para, speaking on condition of anonymity, said hundreds of years-old hills were destroyed through collusion with local power brokers, leaving not a single hill intact.
He alleged that soil from each hill was sold for Tk200,000 to Tk500,000, and that at least 20 to 30 hills have vanished in this manner with the direct involvement of Inani range and beat officials.
A Chowan Khali resident Abdul Alam said trees are felled and sand and soil trafficked under cover of darkness, and those who protest are threatened.
A local schoolteacher, who also requested anonymity, said ordinary people suffer the most when forests are destroyed, but justice becomes elusive when those responsible for protection are themselves involved.
Farmer Nurul Amin of Rajapalong’s Tuturbil area said elephants and wildlife roamed the area just two years ago, but nearly a thousand houses have been built there over the past three years after bribes of Tk50,000 to Tk80,000 were collected from each household in the name of the ranger.
Locals allege that despite the irregularities continuing day after day, senior forest officials have failed to take effective action, emboldening the syndicate further.
They warned that unless immediate measures are taken, Ukhiya’s natural forest resources could be completely wiped out.
Responding to the allegations, Inani Range Officer Md Firoz-Al-Amin denied direct involvement, claiming only minor irregularities had occurred alongside development activities.
He said legal action had been taken against offenders and urged that news reports on the matter not be published.
Cox’s Bazar South Forest Division Divisional Forest Officer Abdullah Al-Mamun said action would be taken against the Inani range and beat officials if investigations found evidence of their involvement.
