They also discussed the issues leading to the extinction of forest, wildlife and the rich ethnic culture.

Botanist Dwijen Sharma launched the book 'Stolen Forest' by Philip Gain at Cirdap auditorium in the city yesterday. The Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD) published the book.

The book is a glowing example of 'investigative reporting' with 250 photographs and over one dozen maps, said Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, executive editor of the Sangbad.

Philip Gain's presentation of images of forests at the programme revealed that the public forestland has shrunk to six percent from 18 percent.

"Through this book, I want to challenge the plantation projects which are implemented by the government, and financed by Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank (WB)," said the author.

In the name of social forestry, the forests have been turned into monoculture haven of teak, rubber, eucalyptus and acacia. These trees have dreadful impacts on the Sal forests, including Modhupur, he said.

He said the plantation economy is in the core of destruction in Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and the Chittagong Hill Tracts. The forests have now become green desert because of these projects, he added.

Supporting his view, Farida Akhter, executive director of Ubinig, discussed how the plantation economy caused waterlogging and added to the misery of the ethnic communities living in the forest areas.

Gautam Dewan, former chairman of Rangamati Zila Parishad, described how they are being deprived of their rights. "We had to suffer a lot due to Kaptai Lake, but only five thanas in Rangamati, out of 10, have got electricity."

He strongly criticised the grabbing of lands of indigenous people and threatened to launch movement to protect their rights.

SEHD Chairman Prof Sakhawat Ali Khan, Kirti Nishan Chakma, an activist, and ambassador Syed Noor Hossain also spoke.