Powerful Interests Tighten Their Grip on Lawacherra Forest land

Sangram Datta: For years, vast stretches of Lawachara National Park in Kamalganj upazila under Moulvibazar district, have quietly slipped from public hands into the control of powerful individuals. Beneath the forest canopy, once alive with wildlife, organized syndicates have carved out tea gardens, pineapple and lemon orchards, and even luxury resorts — all on land that legally belongs to the state.

The encroachment is no secret. Locals and experts say it has been enabled by a nexus of political influence, corruption, and administrative silence. “Those who grab land and deceive poor, peace-loving people — and those who protect them — must be held accountable,” said one environmental advocate familiar with the region.

Sand extraction has also become a lucrative underground industry. Syndicates illegally dredge sand from rivers and streams across Sreemangal and Kamalganj, trucking it to distant markets. These operations, locals say, are guarded by men linked to the same powerful patrons who occupy the forest.

The consequences have been deadly. In the Patricul area of Sreemangal, a truck carrying illegally mined sand recently ran over an elderly woman and a child. The woman died instantly, and the child succumbed to injuries en route to Moulvibazar District Hospital. Similar tragedies have occurred before, including the death of a student crushed under a sand truck in the Sindurkhan–Hugli area several years ago.

Residents say these illegal operations thrive under the protection of influential political figures, some of whom have used ill-gotten wealth to cement their positions in local politics. Despite shifting political tides, these networks often shield one another, ensuring their businesses continue uninterrupted.

“These networks are bipartisan when it comes to profit,” said a local journalist who asked not to be named, fearing reprisals. “When one party loses power, the other protects the same people. It’s an unspoken alliance.”

Local sources also allege that these groups maintain close relationships with certain media figures, paying them to circulate favorable stories through newspapers, television outlets, and social media.

Several years ago, Barrister Syed Sayedul Haque Suman went live on Facebook from the Lawachara area, revealing that large portions of forestland had been converted into private tea estates and resorts by politically connected elites. His broadcast briefly reignited national attention, though little action followed.

Ordinary citizens, meanwhile, live in fear. Brokers acting on behalf of these networks often approach small landholders under the guise of legitimate buyers, only to seize property through deception or intimidation. “They have money, they have muscle, and they have political backing,” said one resident. “Who dares to speak against them?”

In Noagaon under Sreemangal thana, men hired by Maleka Begum, a member of the Sreemangal Union Parishad, allegedly entered and removed soil from land belonging to journalist Sangram Datta, son of former chairman Rasendra Datta Chowdhury. The motive, sources say, was to pressure the owner into selling at a fraction of the land’s value.

Similarly, 15 decimals of land under JL No. 62, Khatian No. 1729, Dag No. 2405, legally owned by Sangram Datta with taxes paid regularly, have reportedly been occupied by Md. Ankar and Md. Hannan, who possess no legal claim to the property.

In a separate incident, a group led by Harun and Joynal allegedly attempted to coerce the sister and brothers of former chairman Rasendra Datta Chowdhury into surrendering their property by forcing them to sign documents under duress. Police and then–municipal mayor Ahad Mia intervened to stop the attempt.

Elsewhere, Abu Bakr Siddique and his sons have long occupied about one decimal of land belonging to the former chairman’s family, refusing to vacate despite repeated requests. Under their leadership, large pits resembling ponds were dug on agricultural land. Bonds were issued with promises to fill the pits, yet years later, the land remains unfilled. Sources suggest the delay may be linked to the landowners’ Hindu identity.

The landowner said the strategy seems deliberate: to coerce property owners into selling at rock-bottom prices or abandoning their land entirely. When outside buyers show interest, the networks spread misinformation and discouraging rumors, effectively preventing any legal sale."

Experts warn these practices not only dispossess landowners but also erode community trust and escalate local tensions. Environmentalists caution that continued encroachment could irreparably damage Lawachara, one of Bangladesh’s few remaining tropical rainforests. “The silence of authorities is as destructive as the bulldozers tearing through the park,” said one advocate.

For now, the godfathers of Sreemangal remain untouched. Their networks are intact, their wealth growing, while the forest — and the people who depend on it — continue to disappear.