A ‘powerful group’ is allegedly setting parts of the Sundarbans on fire to have access to large water-bodies for fishing and to gain control over forest resources.
Rayenda Union Parishad Chairman and President Sundarbans Co-operative Management Committee of Sarankhola range Asaduzzaman Milon told bdnews24.com that there were about ten plots of low-lying land in the region. During rains, these low land abound with fish.
“A group of five to ten people led by Rayenda Union Awami League President Shahnawaz Hawladar alias Shahnawaz Shikari has been controlling the fishing activity in the area.
“By influencing a group of Forest officials, they take huge sums of money from fishermen to allow them to catch fish there.”
Milon said this group often cleared the forest by setting it on fire, to facilitate those fishermen who bribed them to go for fishing.
But after the Forest department of late became alert and lodged a few cases against some of the culprits, the group got enraged, he said.
“They are venting their anger on the forest department by repeatedly destroying Sundarbans”, he said.
Two of the three recent cases relating to the Sundarbans fire have been filed with the Bagerhat Forest Court. Dhansagar Station Forest Official Sultan Mahmud was the petitioner in all three cases. Shahnawaz has been accused in all three cases.
He was temporarily suspended on Tuesday on charges of dereliction of duties.
“I have been alert since taking charge of the station”, Sultan Mahmud said in defence, “on April 13 last, I filed a case against them (the group) after a fire broke out. This made the group angry on me”, he added.
Though 17 people have been charged in the three cases, names of accused other than Shahnawaz have not been revealed.
Sultan Mahmud also did not say who else was involved in the cartel.
However, conversations with fishermen from the Uttar Rajapur village bordering the forest, reveal the names of Rayenda Union Ward I UP member and Ward Awami League Organisational Secretary Zakir Hossain Khan. Zakir was also interrogated by Sarankhola police after the April 27 fire.
Sarankhola OC Md Shah Alam Mia said, “Zakir was detained and questioned on Monday regarding the forest fire. But he was release the next day as his involvement in the incident was not found.”
Speaking to bdnews24.com, many local fishermen said that Zakir had joined hands with Shahnawaz and was trying to seize control over illegal fishing in the Dhansagar area.
But rifts emerged between them during the March 22 elections. After the fire broke out Zakir was also spotted helping the Forest department in dousing the flames, they said.
When his reaction was sought on the allegations, Zakir said, “I do not know how the fire broke out here in the past. But having seen the last fire in Tulatala area, I am convinced that the fire was a deliberate act.”
He denied having any hands in the fire and said none of his associates had anything to do with the fishing cartel.
“Rather I went out with my men to douse the fire along with the Forest Department. A local group is trying to frame me in the case”, he claimed.
When asked for his views on the issue local MP and Bagerhat Awami League District President Mujammel Hossain vowed strict action against those involved in the Sundarbans fire and said that even his own party members would not be spared if they were found to be involved.
Sundarbans East Sector DFO Md Saidul Islam said entry of all to the forest area within the Chandpai Range without permission had been prohibited. Five three-member committees have been constituted to keep vigil to prevent trespassers from entering into the forest area.
He also said stern action would be taken against any official of the Forest Department linked to the cartel.
Source: Bd news24
