Large teak tree felled and stolen from Lawachara National Park

A large teak tree was cut down and stolen early today from along the Srimangal-Bhanugachh road inside Lawachara National Park in Moulvibazar. The tree had an estimated circumference of seven feet and was worth nearly Tk 1 lakh.

The theft has raised fresh questions about surveillance in the protected forest because forest guards and patrol personnel were reportedly on duty nearby. Forest guard Babul and Community Patrol Group member Bijoy Bauri were stationed at the Jankichhara camp gate on Sunday night, while the beat officer and a patrol team remained at Lawachara’s main gate until about 5:30 a.m.

A passerby at Bhanugachh Bazar said he saw a yellow truck covered with a tarpaulin travelling toward Chowmuhani at about 5:30 a.m., escorted by two men on a motorcycle.

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How is it possible to cut down a large tree along a major road and transport it while forest personnel are on duty?

“How is it possible to cut down a large tree along a major road and transport it while forest personnel are on duty?” asked Shamsul Haque, general secretary of the Lawachara People’s Forum. He called for an impartial investigation into duty rosters, patrol records and CCTV footage.

Local resident Saju Marchiang said investigators should determine whether negligence, weak supervision or involvement by forest officials contributed to the theft. Moulvibazar range officer Kazi Nazmul Haque said he visited the site after learning of the incident. “Operations are ongoing to recover the stolen teak and identify those involved. If evidence is found of involvement by anyone from within the Forest Department, strict departmental and legal action will be taken against them,” he said.

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Operations are ongoing to recover the stolen teak and identify those involved. If evidence is found of involvement by anyone from within the Forest Department, strict departmental and legal action will be taken against them.