On the other hand, several markets have sprang up in different areas Hatubhanga, Mirzapur and Sakhipur where stolen timbers are openly sold.

Abdul Latif, a timber merchant at Battala in Tangail, told this correspondent that everyday, specially at night, more than 20 truckloads of timber leave the forest areas for different destinations.

The looting of trees continues due to ineffective steps by the local administration and the forest department, he alleged.

Some influential quarters having political clout have grabbed vast areas of the forest by felling trees, using 'forged documents', an official of Tangail Forest Department told this correspondent seeking anonymity. "We are virtually helpless", he said.

The reserve forests in Tangail were earlier spread over 1, 22,876 acres in five upazilas-- 45,565 acres in Modhupur; 47,220 in Sakhipur; 21,855 in Ghatail; 7, 576 in Mirzapur and 659 acres in Kalihati, according to sources in Forest Department.

At least 40 per cent of the reserve forests in Mirzapur and Sakhipur have been illegally grabbed. Local influential encroachers have constructed houses and raised orchards and gardens and constructed makeshift structures to strengthen their possession, the sources said.

When contacted, forest officials said about 200 cases were filed against the land grabbers after taking permission from Tangail Deputy Commissioner (DC). But the lands could not be restored to forest department ownership due to shortage of manpower and logistics, they said.

The plunder of trees increased after setting up of numerous brick fields near the forests, most of which are illegal.

In a recent drive, a mobile court led by a first class magistrate fined some of the brick field owners in Ghatail, Mirzapur and Basail. Such action is totally ineffective as burning of firewood continues in brick fields, sources said.

Banshtoil Range office sources said 12 out of 40 posts of officials and employees in the six bit offices under Mirzapur and Sakhipur upazilas are vacant for long. They can not take prompt action due to shortage of manpower and logistics, the sources said.

This correspondent could not contact Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Tangail Abu Hanif Patwari despite repeated attempts.