Fire in Patharia forest: Report submitted by inquiry committee

A three-member investigation committee has submitted a report on the incident of fire in Makhaljura and Dhalchhara area of Samanbhag bit under Patharia Hills Reserve Forest in Baralekha of Moulvibazar. Sylhet Divisional Forest Officer (DOF). This investigation report has been submitted to Taufiqul Islam. Chief Assistant Conservator of Forests (Srimangal) of the investigation committee. Maruf Hasan reported this information on Wednesday (March 22) afternoon.

Md. Maruf Hasan said, "We submitted the investigation report last Monday (March 20). On investigation we found that 1.85 hectares of forest was burnt in the fire. We assume that some miscreants may set fire to the forest for the purpose of coercion. Some trees were left with burnt leaves and scorched by the fire. There was no damage to the wildlife.

Earlier on March 7, a fire broke out in the forest area of Makhalzura and Dhalchara areas of Samanbhag Bit. Several hectares of forest land were burnt with bamboo trees and bushes. As a result, the environment and wildlife habitats are under threat. In this incident Nurul Islam, officer of Samanabhag Bit of Forest Department, was withdrawn.

Local people and environmental activists have complained that forest fires have been deliberately set on reserve for afforestation. In this, the beneficiaries set fire to the forest with the help of dishonest officials of the forest department. They believe that the fire has burnt about 40 hectares of forest land, bamboo trees and bushes. It has caused severe damage to the environment. Biodiversity is under threat.

However, after the incident, the forest department said that the fire started from the burning cigarette left by someone. Nurul Islam, an officer of the forest department's sub-division division, made a general diary at the Baralekha police station on March 11 regarding the forest fire.

According to the related sources, the area of Samanbhag reserved forest under Patharia Hills Reserve Forest is 1 thousand 850 hectares. Samanbhag Forest is an evergreen forest area in the northeastern part of Bangladesh and is one of the protected forest areas in Bangladesh to protect flora and fauna.

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