Over 10,000 acres grabbed by 25,000 families from other areas: Numerous trees stolen by loggers Jasim Majumder, back from Bagaihat, Rangamati A scene from fast depleting Baghaichhari Reserve Forest in Rangamati, where outsiders often clear off trees to set up dwelling houses. Photo: STAR Bagaihat Reserve Forest in Rangamati is threaten with extinction due to grabbing and illegal felling of trees by loggers and timber traders. Over 10,000 acres of forestland have so far been grabbed by at lest 2,500 families. Many of the grabbers, who came from others areas, have built houses, locals told this correspondent during a visit there this week. The land grabbing and illegal loggers continue allegedly in connivance with a section of forest officials and employees, they claimed. At least 120 species of wildlife including birds are losing their habitats. Wild animals often go to far away human habitations for food, environmentalist Abu Daud Muhammad said. Bagaihat reserve forest was set up on about 47,000 acres during the British period. The Daily Star correspondent during the visit talked to many people including local body leaders and timber traders. Sajek Union Parishad Chairman L-Thanga Pangkhoya said Bagaihat reserve forest is disappearing due to mismanagement, lack of care and corruption by a section of forest employees. Forty-one year old Dina Lal Chakma said he built a house at Gangarummukh four months ago on a land bought at Tk 32,000 from a local who grabbed the land earlier. None from the forest department or the upazila administration visited the area to claim the land, he said. Like him, 47 families shifted in the forestland in the area from remote Shuknachhari village, he said. Sunity Ranjan Chakma, a timber trader confessed that the forest is being squeezed by land grabbers. When contacted, Bagaichhari Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shibir Bichitra Barua said, "I heard about land grading and illegal felling of trees in Bagaihat reserve forest'. Delwar Hossen Khan, ranger of Bagaihat forest range, also admitted that the forestlands are being grabbed. "We have identified 523 families who illegally grabbed forestlands long ago. He said the forest department is doing a fresh survey of the forest to ascertain grabbed lands and identity the grabbers. We will take action after the survey'. "In several drives we recovered huge quantities of stolen timber. We are trying our best to save the natural reserve forest but we have limitations also', he said. "We have a few forest guards who are also not equipped with modern arms to fight culprits', he said.