Forestland grabbed for 'fruit garden'

A ruling Awami League lawmaker in Netrakona has grabbed around 14 acres of forestland including a hill and planted orange and palm saplings.
The local forest department, custodian of the land, had objected to the planting, but Mostak Ahmed Ruhi, MP from Netrakona-1, pressed ahead.
He even has recruited guards and engaged local AL activists to watch over the young trees, said forest department sources.
Abdul Motaleb, acting chief conservator of forest, has informed the environment and forest ministry of the developments in Netrakona, said officials.
Ruhi however denies the allegations and claims he is doing all this for the welfare of the locals.
In a letter to the ministry last month, the forest department chief wrote that Ruhi with 100/150 party men planted saplings on a 14-acre forestland at Bijoypur of Durgapur range under Mymensingh forest division in June.
As forest officials objected, the MP asked them to help his men with the planting, and said if necessary he would contact the ministry, read the letter quoting the forest conservator for central region.
Officials fear the forest department might lose control over all forestland if grabbing like this continues.
Talking to The Daily Star via phone on Tuesday, the AL lawmaker said he is only implementing a project to set up a “food village” in the public interest.
He said so far he has planted around 800 orange and palm saplings, and has plans to plant saplings of strawberry and other fruits as well.
Ruhi started developing the plantation soon after taking oath as MP in January, and has already spent around Tk 5 lakh.
“The forest department does not own the land. The land ministry is the owner, and I have applied to them for a lease on the land two weeks ago in the name of Spirutak Agro Association,” he reasoned.
“Personally, I have nothing to gain here. The poor people will benefit from the garden. Locals will be able to have saplings from it,” he added.
During a visit to the area recently, this correspondent saw orange and palm saplings on the slopes of a hill that is used as a BDR watchtower.
Places adjacent to the hill too have been planted with saplings.
Nikhlas Richil, employed by the lawmaker, said he spends the daytime on hilltop to guard the plants. Besides, he added, the MP's men are always around.
The plantation is locally known as “orange garden of the MP”, and no-one dares to enter it.