M S Akash, Fatickchhari (Ctg)

The rubber plantation is on fire. Rubber trees are losing their productivity due to excessive heat from the fire. Various species of insects are dying. This is causing great damage to the environment and environment.

On Thursday afternoon, a fire was seen burning on the ground in Dantmara rubber garden area of Fatikchari, Chittagong. At that time, a tapper named Abul Kalam tried to put out the fire, but due to the excessive heat and flames, it was not possible for him alone to control the fire.

Asia's largest plantation under the Bangladesh Forestry Development Corporation is the Dantmara Rubber Plantation.

Rows of fallen rubber tree leaves are on fire on the south side of the Islampur Selfie Road area of Dantmara rubber plantation. Various species of wildlife and insects are endangered by the fires set by the rubber plantation authorities and miscreants.

Ruhul Amin, AGM of Rubber Plantation Authority, admitted to setting fire in the name of clearing various tillers and road lines.

According to local sources, different types of birds, rare species of squirrels, monkeys, rabbits, forest roosters, beji, kheksial, tiya, myna, dove, shalik, buck, baboon live in the rubber garden area. Rubber plantation authorities set fire every year to expand the plantation and clear the dunes.

Again a class of local miscreants came and set fire to piles of leaves. The insects and pests in the forest are burnt in the fire. In addition, earthworms and microorganisms die. Animal habitat is destroyed. Having lost their permanent habitat, wild animals are killed even if they come to the locality. This fire occurs every year in the month of Falgun-Chaitra.

Garden tappers said that the Forest Industry Development Corporation has charged Rs 320 per acre to clear the forest in June and July. But the officials along with the labor leaders of Bagan looted these barads themselves.

Tapping then pressures workers to volunteer to clear the forest.

In recent times, hundreds of travel-hungry tourists from different districts of the country come to enjoy the natural environment in the two selfie roads in Dattamara rubber plantation area. Tourists also expressed their anger due to the destruction of the natural environment due to such fires.

Ruhul Amin, DGM of Dattamara Rubber Plant, said over the phone, 'We set ourselves on fire to clear the lines at many places. Again we resist. He said that he will look into the issue of destruction of wildlife pests.