Concerns raising for allocating 280 ha. Forestland to establish an Administrative Training Academy
The Alumni Association of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Chittagong University (CU) has expressed concern about allocating 283.28 hectares of reserved forest land to establish an Academic of Administration in Himchari National Park in Cox’s Bazar.
Sheikh Muhammad Belal and Professor. Dr. Mohammad Jasimuddin, the president and general secretary of the association, expressed their concern regarding this issue through a signed Bangladesh Government circular on September 25, 2021.
The circular states that 283.28 hectares of Gazetted reserved forest land in Himchhari National Park in Jhilangja, Cox’s Bazar, has been allotted to the Ministry of Public Administration to construct a training academy building for the Bangladesh government officials and employees.
The Ministry of the land (Bangladesh) has allocated the reserved forest for the training academy by showing it as a non-agricultural and demesne land, without taking any views from the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Bangladesh, and its Parliamentary Standing Committee.
This type of activity goes against many existing environmental laws, including Bangladesh National Forest Policy 1994, The Forest Act 1927, Bangladesh Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act 2012, and Environmentally Critical Areas Management Rules 2016. According to these laws, there is no scope to use reserved forest lands for such purposes.
“The vast area of Cox’s Bazar district was once important as a habitat for various species of plants and wildlife, especially elephants. The forest also contributes to protecting the life and property of the people of the coastal region from various natural calamities, including cyclones,” cited the protesters.
However, to address the Rohingya crisis, the government has had to allow more than 2428.114 hectares of forest land of the district for non-forest activities for humanitarian and strategic reasons. If 283.28 hectares of forest land get allotted to construct the training academy building, it would be a tremendous environmental catastrophe.
Similarly, various government and non-government organizations will be motivated to destroy more forests in the name of development. Near future, it will be more challenging to protect the forest and the environment.
The association has written regarding this issue to the Ministry of Public Administration (Bangladesh), Ministry of External Affairs (Bangladesh), Ministry of Land (Bangladesh), Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (Bangladesh), Chief Conservator of Forests, and Deputy Commissioner of Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.
