At least 50 unauthorised saw mills have been carrying out their operations in Bagerhat’s Sharankhola for years, indiscriminately cutting trees from the Sundarbans and other social forestation projects in the area.
The owners of these unlicensed mills are allegedly bribing unscrupulous officials from the Forest Department and local administration to avoid getting shut down. In the process they are also flouting the rule against setting up any saw mill within 10km of the Sundarbans.
Locals claim that the saw mills have cleared miles and miles of land in the area, cutting down Sundari, Gewa and Garan trees and destroying valuable natural assets.
Sources said saw mill owners and merchants have been supplying the timber to smugglers who are openly moving tonnes of wood across the country. Most saw mills also do not have the necessary environmental clearance from authorities concerned.
These mills are located in different areas of Sharankhola upazila including Rajoir, Golbunia, Purbokhada, Amragachhia, Kumarkhali and Tapalbari.
Asaduzzaman Milon, chairman of Royenda Union Parishad, told the Dhaka Tribune that there is no option of setting up saw mills in Sharankhola as it falls within 10km of the Sundarbans. But local men have been ignoring the rule for many years, he added.
But the forest officer in Sharankhola range, Md Kamal Ahmed, said the local saw mills had received a temporary permission to operate following Cyclone Sidr in 2007, so that the uprooted trees could be used to repair the damaged houses.Saidul Islam, divisional officer for East Sundarbans, said: “The saw mills within 10km of the forest would be evicted and those outside the 10km limit would be asked to acquire licences or face legal action,” Saidul said.
