Chunarughat (Habiganj) Correspondent

The allegations of attack on journalists against Range Officer Md. Mamunur Rashid, working in Habiganj’s Satchhari National Park, have been proven. 

In this incident, he has been temporarily suspended and departmental action has been ordered by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on  Wednesday  morning.

 Sylhet Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Md. Abul Kalam confirmed the matter.

It has been learned that in a notification issued by the Ministry on 11 September, it was stated that the involvement of Range Officer Mamunur Rashid was proven in the incident of attacking journalists who went to collect news on tree theft in Satchhari National Park.

In addition, in view of some other serious allegations, the Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) of the Forest Department has been instructed to take prompt departmental action against the officer.

In the notification signed by Deputy Secretary of the Ministry Tushar Kanti Pal, it was mentioned that due to misbehavior with journalists, irregularities in the name of entertaining some journalists in a hotel, and negligence of duty, departmental action must be taken against Range Officer Mamunur Rashid under the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018. At the same time, he was also ordered to be temporarily suspended.

Earlier, the same Ministry had also ordered the compulsory transfer of all officers and employees of Satchhari National Park.

Recently, when Mujahid Mosi, journalist of Daily Kalbela, and Tripurarai Debnath Tipu, journalist of Bangla Times, went to collect news regarding tree smuggling in Satchhari National Park, they were attacked under the leadership of that forest officer. Later, to cover up the incident, a case of extortion was filed against them in the police station. When the incident was widely reported in the media, the Ministry formed an investigation committee. In the investigation, when the allegations against Mamunur Rashid were proven, it was recommended to take departmental action.

Earlier, for recording visuals of teak tree smuggling from Satchhari reserved forest, a case was filed in the Senior Judicial Magistrate Court of Habiganj by journalist Mujahid Mosi against four forest officers for assaulting a journalist. After a long hearing, Judge Muhammad Shahedul Alam took the case into cognizance and ordered PBI Habiganj to investigate. The case was registered as CR No-745/25, and the court instructed to submit the investigation report by 12 December.

Journalist Mujahid Mosi said, “We only went to the spot to reveal the truth. But the behavior of that officer and his colleagues was frightening for us. We feel relieved as some visible punishment has been given to the culprits.”