Save Modhupur sal forest
The High Court yesterday issued a rule upon the government asking for protecting natural Modhupur sal forest in Tangail and settling longstanding disputes over the land and forest rights of indigenous people there.
The court asked the government to explain why it should not be directed to arrange an alternative settlement for indigenous people living at salban area before cancelling their settlements.
It also asked the government to explain why it should not be directed to demarcate the salban area properly, and frame rules on village forestry, and stop commercial cultivation of bananas, papayas, pineapples on the forest land.
An HC bench of Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain and Justice ATM Fazle Kabir issued the rule following a writ petition jointly filed by Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers' Association (Bela) and the Joyenshahi Adivasi Unnayan Parishad.
The additional deputy commissioner (revenue) of Tangail and upazila revenue officer of Modhupur have been made respondents to the rule.
The petitioners urged the HC to direct the respondents to correctly identify the borders of Modhupur salban under the forest act, evict illegal constructions in the forest, frame rules on village forestry and stop illegal collection of revenue from the forest people.
Advocate Probir Neogi assisted by Iqbal Kabir moved the petition.
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