For those who live adjacent to the Gangamoti Reserve Forest that hugs the Kuakata coastline in Patuakhali, it's not unusual to see the ominous glow of night fires. "We don't come outside then," says one resident, "for fear of the gang." The forest is gradually being depleted of its mature trees thanks to the efforts of criminals who often loot the trees at night.

While the gang especially preys upon trees that have been uprooted by tidal surges, still others are felled. After the timber is gathered, in an effort to cover their tracks, the remaining tree trunks are doused with petrol and set alight.

Several species including babla, karai, chaila, keora, bain and tamarisk are pillaged; and a trip to the reserve forest is to find the charred remains of hundreds of tree trunks.

The gang usually sets to work cutting the trees in the evening, locals allege, with work continuing until around midnight. The stolen loot is then sent by country boat and trawler to various river ports including Swarupkathi timber market in Pirojpur district.

According to forest department sources, Gangamoti which is about 8 kilometres long and covers 32 hectares was planted in the 2013-2014 fiscal year with babla and karai trees, while chaila, keora and bain grew naturally.

The forest was designed as an erosion prevention measure and since it was planted around one third of the forest territory has eroded due to natural calamities including cyclones and tidal surges.

Forest officials meanwhile have great difficulty in patrolling and guarding the forest due to its length and a lack of manpower. "Forest officials are never on duty at night," says one local on condition of anonymity.

"We have only six guards for all the forests in this area," says range officer Md. Samsuddoha based in Kalapara upazila's Mohipur. "It is very difficult for them to protect all the forest properly."

Based in Patuakhali, the divisional forest officer Ajit Kumer Rudhro says lawful steps will be taken against any gang involved in illegal tree felling and pillaging.

Locals fear however that if the gang's activities continue unabated the reserve forest will be completely destroyed within a relatively short period.