Law prohibits setting up of sawmill within ten kilometres of reserve forest area.

These saw mills are in Santushpur, Barachara and Chandimaondop forest beats in Rashulpur range under Mymensingh district and Motishmara beat in Modhupur forest range in Tangail district.

Everyday, about 5000 cft (KB) of timber are supplied from the sawmills, of which about 3500 (cft KB) are illegal, sources claimed.

At night, about 50 rickshaw vans, engaged by smugglers, carry illegally felled trees to the sawmills and take back the timber to desired destinations, they said.

Rickshaw van driver Abul Lalam talking to this correspondent during a recent visit said the smugglers are very organised and they come to the forests in groups. "They are very powerful and maintain links with persons concerned".

Fulbaria upazila headquarter, Kishoregonj, Shibgonj and Babular Bazar under Fulbaria upazila are trading centres for smuggled timber. If illegal extraction of timber goes on like this, the reserve forest will deplete, the sources said.

Besides, the government is also being deprived of huge amounts of revenue due to this illegal extraction.

The sources said Santushpur beat is the most attractive area for timber smugglers now as trees there are big and mature. Santushpur, Rangamatia, Krishnapur, Anayatpur, Dulma, Khalgao, Gupinathpur and Betbaria areaa are under the Santushpur beat.

When contacted, Santushpur Beat Officer Narayan Candra Das said the forest department has forbidden establishment of any sawmill in 10 km area. He said he does not know how these sawmills were set up because the DC is the only authority to give permission. Santushpur preserve forest area is spread over 6522.72 acres.

He said he mentioned about the unauthorisd sawmills in his monthly report to the authorities but they did not take any step regarding this.

Forest guard Rahamat Ali said there are only two forest guards in Santoshpur beat. It is impossible for them to look after the 6522.72-acre forest area. So smugglers can easily take away trees.

Md Abraham, Ranger of Rashulpur forest range, said he has nothing to do if the higher authorities do not take any action.

It is not possible to stop illegal felling of trees with the present small manpower, he said.

Mymensingh Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Abdul Latif Mia said, "I sent a report to the forest ministry about the unauthorised sawmills but the ministry did not take any action".

Fulbaria UNO said, "The DC is the sole authority to gave permission for sawmill. So I have nothing to do".

Sources at Mymensingh DC's office said permission was not given for any saw mill in the reserve forest area in the district.

The Mymensingh DC could not be contacted over phone despite several attempts.