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January
20, 2001
Khulna, Jan 19 (UNB) – Coast guards and forest officials in a joint drive today seized huge quantity of ‘Sundari’ wood from a canal behind Chaterhat police camp in Mongla.
Officials at Mongla Coast Guard said they launched the operation with the help of Changpai Range forest officials in 2km area of the canal, adjacent to the Sunderban, the world’s largest mangrove forest, and recovered about 7,000 cubic feet of timber logs worth about Tk 50 lakh.
Local sources said timber trader Quddus Ejarader and his brother Mostafa Ejarader in collusion with law enforcers were running the illegal timber business for long.
Establishing an organised network, they collected and stockpiled the timber in the canal. As per demands, they supply the logs to the concerned parties in convenient times.
Sundari, a precious flora species in the Sunderban, is depleting fast due to top dying disease and indiscriminate felling by a section of greedy woodcutters ignoring government ban.
Locals alleged that police were fully aware of the matter, but remain silent taking bribes from the traders.
Another sources said the two brothers built their stockpile in the canal with the help of a former forest official. After the operation, the trader brothers went on hiding.
The recovered logs were being taken to Dangmari Forest Office, UNB Bagerhat correspondent added.
The operation will continue for another two days, sources said.
Meanwhile, Mongla Port security patrol team caught two alleged pirates along with a shutter gun and four rounds of bullet while they were roaming suspiciously in a trawler in the river Poshur Thursday night.
The arrested identified as Enaet Khan, 35, of Morelganj unpazila and Mostafa in Baherhat sadar were handed over to Mongla police.
Police said the arrested people were involved in piracy in different areas adjoining to the port. A case was filed with local police against them.
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