Initiative to protect 13000 acres of forest occupied by fake identity in Sylhet
By Zeba Tarannum
Bangladesh News: The Forest Department owns 13,000 acres of forest-land occupied by the name of migrants in Asampara and Jaintapur of Sylhet. A double bench of the Bangladesh High Court gave the verdict on November 16, 2020.
Two writs have been disposed of at the same time. The Attorney General said a separate bench would seek to look into the Forest Department’s cases to protect national resources.
The government owns the forest. But 19 migrants or refugees from India filed two writ petitions in 2012 and 2014 claiming the forest land. The court has issued then the rule.
However, the High Court gave the final verdict of the writ petition on the 16th instant. The verdict said that none of the applicants could prove themselves migrants.
So, they do not own 10,000 acres of land in Asampara and about 3,000 acres of land in Jaintapur of Sylhet. As a result, the government regained ownership of 13,000 acres of land.
The state’s chief legal officer said he would appeal to the Chief Justice for a speedy hearing of forest land recovery cases across the country. Along with that, the Attorney General’s Office has also asked for a list to the Chief Forest Conservator.
According to court sources, the Forest Department and local migrants’ case for ownership of another 17,000 acres of land is pending in the High Court and the Appellate Division.
