Land grabber allegedly using AC Land’s name to extort in Chunarughat, hill cutting rampant in Kalenga
A group including village watchman Yunus, alleged local Jubo Dal leader Jahangir, one Jashim, and Jubo League leader Hamid, are allegedly exploiting the name of the Assistant Commissioner (Land) to illegally cut hills in the Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary’s tourism area in Kalenga, violating environmental laws and extorting lakhs of taka.
They are cutting high hills, transporting sand and soil via tractors, and selling them freely for land-filling purposes in markets, bazaars, and other locations.
A massive hill-cutting operation is underway at a hill owned by expatriate Afsar Uddin in Purba Himalaya village within the Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary in Kalenga. Local sources and Afsar Uddin’s family allege that Yunus, the village watchman from Mirashi Union, Jahangir from the local Jubo Dal, and Jashim, a so-called journalist, have managed the Assistant Commissioner (Land) with large sums of money to obtain permission for cutting the hill and transporting sand and soil to markets and other areas for land-filling. Anonymous locals and sources further claim that Yunus Mia, son of the late Ebadur Rahman from Lalkear Adarsha village, Jahangir Mia, son of Abdul Shahid from Chamaltali village, Kabir Mia, son of Afsar Uddin, Jashim, and Kabir Mia’s group are involved in this illegal activity, violating environmental laws by exploiting the AC Land’s name.
Regarding Afsar Uddin’s hill, they claimed that the issue was investigated by the police for two to three days, and they obtained permission from the AC Land to cut the hill. Jahangir and Yunus further stated that not only this hill but also the hill owned by Jubo League leader Abdul Hamid, son of the late Abdul Jabbar, west of Chamaltali Bazar, and several other hills in the area are being cut, with sand and soil being freely transported via tractors.
A massive hill-cutting operation is underway at a hill owned by expatriate Afsar Uddin in Purba Himalaya village within the Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary in Kalenga. Local sources and Afsar Uddin’s family allege that Yunus, the village watchman from Mirashi Union, Jahangir from the local Jubo Dal, and Jashim, a so-called journalist, have managed the Assistant Commissioner (Land) with large sums of money to obtain permission for cutting the hill and transporting sand and soil to markets and other areas for land-filling. Anonymous locals and sources further claim that Yunus Mia, son of the late Ebadur Rahman from Lalkear Adarsha village, Jahangir Mia, son of Abdul Shahid from Chamaltali village, Kabir Mia, son of Afsar Uddin, Jashim, and Kabir Mia’s group are involved in this illegal activity, violating environmental laws by exploiting the AC Land’s name.
Regarding Afsar Uddin’s hill, they claimed that the issue was investigated by the police for two to three days, and they obtained permission from the AC Land to cut the hill. Jahangir and Yunus further stated that not only this hill but also the hill owned by Jubo League leader Abdul Hamid, son of the late Abdul Jabbar, west of Chamaltali Bazar, and several other hills in the area are being cut, with sand and soil being freely transported via tractors.
Allegations against Jashim, Jahangir, and Yunus include illegal sand extraction from the Karangi River using dredger machines, smuggling forest timber, cutting hills for land-filling in homes, markets, and bazaars, and other illicit activities. Locals claim that no one dares to speak out against them due to fear of harassment, torture, or false legal cases.
The rampant hill cutting endangers the homes of residents living on these hills, with the risk of landslides causing potential loss of life and property. The roads in the area have also turned into large potholes due to the activity. Locals and concerned citizens demand urgent administrative action to stop the hill cutting and protect the environment. Despite the presence of the Kalenga Range in the Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary, the Forest Department remains mysteriously silent.
Kalenga Range Officer Masudur Rahman stated, “I am unaware of any hill cutting. If such activities are happening within the forest area, I will take action.” Chunarughat Assistant Commissioner (Land) Mahbub Alam Mahbub said, “I have not given anyone permission to cut hills. If anyone is involved in such activities, legal action will be taken against them.”
The rampant hill cutting endangers the homes of residents living on these hills, with the risk of landslides causing potential loss of life and property. The roads in the area have also turned into large potholes due to the activity. Locals and concerned citizens demand urgent administrative action to stop the hill cutting and protect the environment. Despite the presence of the Kalenga Range in the Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary, the Forest Department remains mysteriously silent.
Kalenga Range Officer Masudur Rahman stated, “I am unaware of any hill cutting. If such activities are happening within the forest area, I will take action.” Chunarughat Assistant Commissioner (Land) Mahbub Alam Mahbub said, “I have not given anyone permission to cut hills. If anyone is involved in such activities, legal action will be taken against them.”
