Grabber feasts on Kuakata

A real estate company named The Sunrise Beach Resort hung a signboard in Gangamoti area on Kuakata beach, 'occupying' khas land.

The company hung the signboard on the bank of the Bay about 4 km to the east from Kuata zero point near Gamgamoti reserve forest while a local gang felled at least 70 kewra trees in the area.

The gang later set fire to the trunks of the felled trees to destroy all evidence, said Patuakhali forest department sources.

There is a reserve forest, covering 13,980 acres of land including Gangamoti, Latachaplee, Khajura, Kuakata and around 14,000 species of trees there. Of them, most of two local varieties -- Kawra and Akashmoni -- are in the reserve forest.

But a gang felled at least 70 kewra trees in Gangamoti area in two separate phases this year, grabbing the forest land and the beach, said the sources. 

Despite filing of three cases, tree felling continues in the area, said Ajit Kumer Rudrho, divisional forest officer.

Finding no alternative, forest department on March 15 wrote to the deputy commissioner (DC) to take immediate steps in this regard, but to no effect yet.

Rather, a real estate company set up a signboard on the beach to occupy the land.

"We placed the signboard on our own land and we have all valid documents of the land," Abdur Rahman Sohel, director of The Sunrise Beach Resort, said, claiming that they are not involved in tree felling.

A section of forest robbers set up a signboard in the area after cutting trees, the forest officer said, adding that there is no scope to claim ownership of forest land or beach.

Punitive action will be taken against the grabbers after taking information in this regard, said DC AKM Shamimul Haq Siddikee.