Of illegal logging and reign of terror

A gang has allegedly been cutting trees for years in different neighbourhoods of the indigenous Mro community in Bandarban's Lama upazila.

The community also claimed that when they protest this act, the gang harasses and tortures them, with the help of their muscle power, firearms and false cases. The local administration, forest officials and law enforcers have turned a blind eye to this situation, according to them.

Lemupalong, Monglaipara, Bakkapara, Dewanpara, Lohajhiripara, Charkiapara, Chalapara, Tongpreypara, Amtolipara and Bengpara of Lama upazila have fallen victim to this unabated hill cutting, found this correspondent during a recent visit.

It was also seen that the hilly areas were turned barren by the deforestation committed by the hill-cutting gang. A huge stock of around 250 trees was kept piled up at a local school playground in Bakkapara area.

"The gang has illegally cut these trees and stacked them here. Now, they will carry the trees by elephants to a nearby destination. They send these trees to different districts via motorised transports," said the headman of a local Mro community, seeking anonymity.

Jhiris (small hilly fountains) are the main source of water in hills. However, the jhiri water has become polluted by the waste dump there, claimed locals.

"We have prohibited our children to drink water from these jhiris. Recently, four children of our community became severely sick after drinking water from these jhiris," said Charwen Mro, headman of Puraton Dewanpara.

Morshed Alam Chowdhury -- a resident of Chattogram's Lohagora upazila and a Jubo League leader -- is the kingpin of the gang, alleged the people of the indigenous community.

"Morshed runs a gang of around some 30 to 40 armed people. None of us even dare to speak against them," said a Mro man, seeking anonymity.

"We even have to get his verbal permission to sell our own land. That's how much control he has gained over the area," said Chongreng Mro, karbari (community leader) of Puraton Dewanpara community.

In 2015, some members of the Mro community protested his illegal activities. In response, Morshed and his cohorts filed false cases against them to harass the Mro community, said Menwai Mro, member of ward-9 at Lama Sorai Union Parishad.

"I'm also a victim of these false cases," he added.

However, this correspondent could not reach Morshed to verify these claims despite repeated attempts, as his phone was found switched off.

His elder brother Khorshed Alam Chowdhury, president of Lohagara upazila unit of Awami League, denied the allegations and said some other people might have cut the trees, using Morshed's name.

Morshed's manager Md Rafiqul said headmen of Lemupalong Mouza and some other neighbourhoods had sold their land and cultivated gardens to Morshed. Many of the headmen, who sold lands, had already died.

"We are cutting trees from these lands, which we have bought, after acquiring permission from the Forest Department," he claimed.

However, Hlathoyehi Marma, president of Bandarban Headman-Karbari Parishad, said, "Forests are natural resources. No one has the right to sell it. So, the claim of purchase is not true. If anyone cuts trees from the forest, it is completely illegal."

Md Ariful Haque Belal, forest officer in Lama, said he was not aware of the issue.

"I will look into the matter and direct the officials concerned to conduct drives if the allegations are found to be true," said Belal.

This correspondent could not reach Lama UNO Mostafa Zabed Kaisar over the phone despite repeated attempts.

Lama Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shahidul Islam Chowdhury said he did not receive any such complaint over illegal tree cutting or harassment of the Mro community.

"We will take necessary legal action if we receive such complaints," said the OC.