The High Court yesterday ordered the relevant authorities not to issue any further allotment or make any new establishment in the reserved forest of Nijhum Dwip in Noakhali.
The court directed Noakhali district register, Hatia upazila Nirbahi officer, Hatia upazila assistant commissioner (land) and upazila sub-register to carry out the order.
An HC bench of Justice Mirza Hossain Haider and Ataur Rahman Khan passed the order in response to a writ petition filed by Advocate Abu Bakar and Nijhum Dwip resident Rofiq Uddin Enayet yesterday afternoon.
The court also ordered the government to submit a report within four weeks on how much land of the reserved forest has been allotted or leased out to individuals or groups.
It asked the government to submit another report on the list of possession and the position of the entire land of Nijhum Dwip to the court every fourth month.
The court also issued a rule asking why an order should not be passed to cancel all the allotments and recover the land of the forest which has already been leased out to individuals or groups.
The rule also asked the respondents why they should not be directed to protect, conserve and develop the forest from destructive activities and undue interventions by allocating land to the individuals or groups of people and to prevent the damage occurred therein by ensuring compliance with applicable law.
It also asked the respondents to cancel the lease deeds and recover the land of reserved forest area which has already been allotted in favour of individuals or groups.
Home secretary, Environment and forest secretary, inspector general of police, district commissioner and police super of Noakhali along with other 12 respondents have to submit their replies within four weeks.
Barrister Bodrudduja Badol moved for the petitioner. He told the Dhaka Tribune: “The government announced Nijhum Dip as reserved forest of 40 thousand acres.
The local government is allocating its land to different persons what, according to the gazette notification, they cannot do.”
“On the other hand, a group of influential people is grabbing land, cutting trees and hunting animals illegally.”
Assistant Attorney General AM Masud Rumi stood for the state.