Five Forest Workers Injured in Attack During Illegal Betel Leaf Farm Eviction in Ramu
Five forest department officials and employees were injured, three seriously, in an attack while attempting to evict an illegal betel leaf farm from reserved forest land in the Panerchhara area of South Mithachhari Union, Ramu Upazila, Cox's Bazar. The incident occurred around 10:30 AM on Monday. The injured include Panerchhara Forest Range Officer Shariful Alam, Forest Guard Humayun Kabir, gardener Saidul Islam, employee Md. Sajid, and Emergency Response Team (ERT) member Mizanur Rahman.
According to Abdullah Al Mamun, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Cox's Bazar South Forest Division, the team was attacked with sharp weapons by individuals who had occupied the reserved forest land. The injured were taken to Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital. Shariful Alam, who sustained a serious head injury, was later transferred to Chittagong Medical College Hospital due to his deteriorating condition. The DFO stated that the eviction team was carrying out their duty to remove the illegal farm when the land grabbers launched a coordinated assault.
Forest officials believe this attack may be a planned retaliation for a previous eviction of another illegal betel leaf farm in the Samitipara area on July 25th, the same day a dumper truck used for hill cutting was seized in the Shiapara area. The DFO has vowed to take legal action against those involved. The Bangladesh Foresters Association (BFA) condemned the attack as a direct challenge to the state's law and order, demanding swift justice and the immediate arrest of the perpetrators.
This incident highlights the persistent conflict between conservation efforts and illegal land encroachment, particularly concerning valuable resources like forest land. The attack on forest officials underscores the risks faced by public servants enforcing environmental regulations. The organized nature of the assault suggests a potential network of individuals benefiting from illegal land use, challenging state authority. Future policy considerations might involve strengthening enforcement mechanisms, exploring community-based conservation models that align economic incentives with sustainable practices, and addressing the underlying socio-economic drivers of encroachment to mitigate such conflicts and ensure the long-term protection of natural resources.
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