Manjur Morshed Tuhin, Patuakhali

New char lands emerging in the river and ocean are naturally sheltered by salt-tolerant mangrove species—including Keora, Bine, Gewa, and Golpata—which act as a vital natural shield against devastating coastal storms and tidal surges. However, that natural defense is increasingly being felled by sawmill blades in Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali.

Widespread allegations of coastal deforestation have emerged, centered on land grabbing, illegal construction of settlements and fish enclosures, and an unchecked timber trade. Sources reveal an organized nexus involving local encroachers, timber traders, middlemen, laborers, transporters, sawmill operators, and a section of dishonest Forest Department personnel.

During an on-site investigation on Sunday (Spt 6)  at Md. Abul Kalam's sawmill in the Hajipur area of Nilganj Union, a massive Keora tree weighing approximately two tons was found being sawn into planks, with several other logs lying nearby.

Locals claimed the timber was harvested from the rivers and char areas of Nilganj Union, transported via river trawlers directly to the mill. Kalam’s sawmill has reportedly been processing forest timber into planks for years, with preparations underway to ship the current batch to distant markets, including Dhaka, for furniture and construction use.

The operation raises critical governance questions: If these large Keora trees were sourced legally, what is their origin, who issued the permits, and what official transportation protocol was followed? Conversely, if harvested illegally, how did the timber pass through river routes to the sawmill without Forest Department intervention?

The investigation revealed further evidence of destruction deep within the forest canopy. Freshly cut trunks and fallen Keora trees were discovered scattered across various spots. In one instance, an individual was spotted climbing a standing Keora tree to lop off its branches.

The environmental degradation extends beyond timber extraction. Within the 300-meter-wide forest belt stretching from the Water Development Board embankment to the Sonatala River, local settlements and fish enclosures have proliferated. Cut tree branches are routinely submerged around the enclosures to create artificial fish shelters (jhau), systematically stripping the forest’s understory and ruining its ecosystem.

Locals allege that personnel assigned to guard the forest maintain active ties with timber syndicates. According to community members, a recent handover of Keora trees to unscrupulous traders occurred in the presence of Md. Kamrul, a forest worker responsible for Nilganj Union.

Kamrul Islam strongly denied the allegations, stating, "I know nothing about these trees. The allegations against me are completely false. Those making complaints are doing so to save themselves. I spoke with Salim bhai here, who said these trees were found floating in the river."

Local laborer Md. Bachchu presented a different version of events: "A tree was lying in the river. Local civil society members, contractors, and Kamrul from the Forest Department handed the trees over to me to cut. They will be used to make public benches and latrines. Kamrul sir provided the tree in the area's interest."

This statement raises further procedural red flags. Standard protocol dictates that fallen or floating timber must be formally seized, logged, and auctioned or transferred through transparent administrative channels—a process for which no documentation was produced.

Locals emphasize that the deforestation is not the work of isolated individuals, but rather a multi-tiered syndicate.

 They said, new char lands are cleared of native vegetation,  laborers fell mature trees and transport the timber via water routes and middlemen deliver the logs to regional sawmills, where they are converted into commercial planks and sold in national markets.

According to official figures, the Patuakhali Coastal Forest Department oversees roughly 5,216 acres (2,111 hectares) of notified and protected forest land in Kalapara Upazila. These forests are essential for protecting the Kalapara and Kuakata coastlines, maintaining ecological balance, and protecting the region's tourism infrastructure.

While state funds are continuously allocated for social afforestation and mangrove sapling plantation on emerging chars, the simultaneous felling of mature, protective trees severely undermines the efficiency of coastal forest management.

When approached for comment, Kalapara Forest Range Officer (Additional) Md. Monirul Islam evaded direct questions, stating, "I cannot give an official statement—do you want me to face administrative trouble? The DFO sir is visiting, and Kamrul's transfer is expected. You can write that thousands of trees were uprooted, but show me where they were. I would know even if a single branch were cut. If someone in my department committed an offense, I will take strict action."

Despite official assurances, ground realities paint a starkly different picture of surveillance and enforcement.

Md. Abu Kawsar, Assistant Conservator of Forests for the Patuakhali Coastal Forest Department, said, "I have joined the Patuakhali office very recently. I am unaware of any permit issued to saw Keora trees at local mills. If any forest employee or outsider is found complicit in forest destruction, a thorough investigation will be conducted, and strict action will be taken."

Coastal mangroves serve as Bangladesh's primary natural defense against extreme weather events, land erosion, and biodiversity loss. Environmentalists stress that the destruction of a single mature Keora tree destabilizes the immediate coastal ecosystem, making complete administrative accountability—from forest floor to sawmill—an urgent necessity.