Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Sylhet Lasker Maksudur Rahman accumulated wealth worth about Tk 6 crore and Conservator of Forest (CF), Dhaka Division, Ali Kabir Haider around Tk 50 lakh and CF of Khulna Division Mizanur Rahman owns huge landed property in Dhaka and has bank accounts in some foreign countries, they were quoted to have said during confessions while on remand.

In Khulna, Mizanur Rahman admitted that he was trying to flee the country fearing crackdown on corrupt forest officials following the arrest of Chief Conservator of Forest Osman Gani. He fell unconscious during interrogation on Monday night, sources said.

Meanwhile, most officials in forest department and their relatives are reportedly panicked that corruption allegations against mid-level and lower level forest officials may also come to the surface during the ongoing quizzing of the remanded divisional chiefs. The law enforcers may come up with another list of corrupt suspect forest officials, they apprehend.

ALI KABIR HAIDER
Sources in the Joint Force said Ali Kabir Haider might have much more ill-gotten money and wealth than he confessed.

He owns a five-storied building at Nikunja in Khilkhet and three plots in Mirpur, Purbachal and Nandipara.

Ali Kabir arrested on Sunday was placed on a five-day remand on Monday. The law enforcers seized bonds worth Tk 50 lakh and deposit books of different banks where he kept around Tk 30 lakh and 12 tolas of gold ornaments.

Our staff correspondent in Sylhet reports:

Detained DFO Lashkar Maksudur Rahman's illegal wealth includes 14 shops, one flat, three plots in Dhaka, around Tk 60 lakh in cash or other forms, 10 acres of land in Narsingdi, a palatial house in Khulna and a Toyota car.

Sources said Lashkar, who had close links with the former finance minister's son and former BNP lawmaker Naser Rahman, had misappropriated teak timber worth Tk 200 crore during the last two and half years of his tenure in Sylhet office.

He had also misappropriated Tk10 crore sanctioned for tree plantation, nursing and other purposes in the division.

Lashkar forcibly took signatures from many subordinate officers in applications for transfer and used to get his 'own and trusted' officers in those posts, sources alleged.

He also earned a lot by allowing organised gangs and BNP leaders to destroy forests in Habiganj, Moulvibazar and at Jafflong for setting up stone crushers there. He also allowed illegally setting up about 100 sawmills in forest areas.

Besides, there are many more allegations of illegal auction of seized lots of timbers and plunder of reserved forests in Satchhari, Rajkandi, Chunarughat, Rema, Juri and Kulaura

Our staff correspondent in Khulna reports:

Shaikh Mizanur Rahman told investigators that his plan to leave the country turned futile as intelligence agencies came to know that in advance.

He admitted having huge lands and other property in Dhaka and bank accounts in foreign countries.

Innvestigation officer of the case filed with Khalishpur Police Station against him, Sub Inspector Jamaluddin said he is trying to conceal facts regarding his wealth.

Police quoting Mizanur said he got illegal money through DFO (west) Mozaharul Islam, deputy rangers Syed Mohammodullah, Abul Kalam Azad and Shahidullah and Ranger Yunus Ali and shared it with them.

KMP sources said Mozaharul Islam, Yunus Ali and caretaker of CF's official bungalow Rafiqul Islam have been asked not to leave Khulna without prior permission from the Joint Forces.