Destroying forest in the name of research centre

Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Science University (CVASU) has built a dormitory in a protected forest -- which was leased out to them by the land ministry for building an institute for coastal biodiversity, marine fisheries and wildlife research, amid strong opposition from the forest department.

The five acres of forest land, given to CVASU, is in Doria Nagar of Cox's Bazar, an area which has already been experiencing a massive onslaught on its forest land due to Rohingya influx.

The land ministry changed the status of the protected forest in 2015 to facilitate the lease to CVASU. Once in possession of the forest, the university authorities constructed a five-storey dormitory in 2018, violating the lease conditions that prevent them from using the land for any other purpose than building the institute.

They also built a tin-shed structure, which will be used as a hatchery, which is yet to begin its work.

This land is an important habitat of the endangered Asian elephant, which has been in a dire state due to destruction of habitat, grabbing of the forestland and continuous deforestation in the region.

Besides, the forest is home to various species of deer, wild dog, monkeys and badgers.

Administrators, academics and political leaders check-in at the dormitory when they go on excursions in Cox's Bazar, the most sought-after tourist spot of the country, alleged locals.

During a recent visit, this correspondent found a foundation stone within the boundary of the dormitory, which reads: Nurul Islam Nahid, former education minister, laid the foundation stone of Institute of Coastal Biodiversity, Marine Fisheries and Wildlife Research, dated November 22, 2015.

Inside the dormitory, this correspondent saw there were a total of 44 rooms (including two for VIPs). The correspondent was not allowed to enter any of the rooms.

There were also around a dozen employees, including cleaners, cooks and security staff, to look after "research guests". There are also some students of the university who reside there for practical classes.

A hundred yards to the west of the five acres of forest land was a vast field, made by levelling hills, prompting the Department of Environment (DoE) to file a lawsuit against the university authorities in 2018.

An inspection report of DoE in 2018 attributed the death of an elephant due to the steep cutting of hills by CVASU.

Talking to The Daily Star, Kamal Hossen, professor of Forestry and Environmental Science at Chittagong University, criticised the move of leasing out a forest and not utilising it for the cause it was given.

"I went to the spot where I found two tin-shed structures. Sometimes in the name of development, we don't hesitate to sacrifice forests," he said.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, executive director of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela), said the dormitory has to be demolished and the CVASU authorities must be asked for compensatory afforestation.

"The lease must be revoked. They must afforest the area three times the forest they damaged," she said.

Contacted over phone, Dr Mohammed Nurul Absar Khan, dean, faculty of fisheries and also in-charge of the facility, told The Daily Star that the research institute was "still in review" and that the hatchery was in its final stages.

When asked why there was a dormitory in violation of the lease, he said, "I don't owe you an explanation in this regard."

Meanwhile, Cox's Bazar Forest Division (South) declined to comment on the construction of the dormitory.

About the status of the case filed against CVASU authorities, Sheikh Nazmul Huda, deputy director of DoE (Cox's Bazar), said he joined at the end of 2019 and was not aware of the issue.

"We will look into the matter," he said.

Contacted, Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury told The Daily Star that he was unaware of the issue and that he would also "look into it."