A source in the Forest Department said the situation arose following introduction of sealed tender system instead of open auction system by the Ministry of Forest and Environment to sell timber. The timber are now kept in the open sky.

The Forest Department source said timber merchants have lost interest in participation in the bid due to lengthy procedure. Small merchants have no chance to participate in the bid due to their financial constraint.

In open auction system, all interested persons could participate and purchase timber according to their needs.

Forest officials said the Ministry of Forest and Environment, in a letter issued on October 10, 2005, asked them to sell timber through sealed tender. On receipt of the letter of the ministry, they had invited tender in 47 groups on October 17, 2006, but quotations were submitted for only 38 groups, they said. They also called second tender on November 20 for 16 groups, but quotations were submitted for only two groups, the said further.

In this way, the third tender was called for 14 groups on January 16 this year but they received quotations for only three groups. The next tender was called for 12 groups on April 19 this year, but they received quotations for only three groups.

Forest officials said the number of submitted quotations was not only poor, but they could not approve the submitted quotations due to different faults.

In this circumstance, they were compelled to call re-tender. The lengthy procedure for approval of any quotation is also another reason for which bidders lost interest in participating the bid.

However, value of timber and timber made furniture kept in stacks at different forest range offices will be about Tk 3 crore.

According to the office of the Forest Department in Srimongal, 48 thousand 586 cubic feet of round timber, 4 thousand 731 feet of long timber slices, 367.50 cubic feet of fuel wood, 1,408 pieces of different items of furniture, 60 thousand 411 pieces of bamboo and 280 bundles of hemp (Shon grass) are being kept under the open sky at the forest range offices at Juri-1, Juri-2, Kulaura and Rajkandi.

Because of rains, most of the items are being damaged. If the forest goods are not sold immediately, value of the goods might come down by 50 percent, sources said.

Meanwhile, scarcity of timber is prevailing in the markets though the district is rich in forest resources. As a result, prices of timber soared abnormally. Construction work is being hampered seriously due to scarcity of timber in markets. Labourers involved in wood work are also reportedly becoming jobless following scarcity of timber.

Sylhet Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Abul Bashar said to this correspondent over phone not only in Moulvibazar but the same situation prevails in 12 forest range offices of Sylhet region. He said interested buyers have no idea about tender. They (buyers) feel comfortable in open auction system.

On contact, the DFO too said that timbers kept in stacks at different forest range offices are being destroyed. He said he is trying to the make the process easy.