5 acres of forestland recovered in Cox’s Bazar

Following the death of an elephant due to an electric trap set in a tobacco field on forest land in Chakaria, Cox's Bazar, the Forest Department has stepped up its efforts to reclaim forestland, dismantle illegal structures, and remove electric wires used for trapping wildlife.

As part of this initiative, a forest eviction drive on Tuesday reclaimed five acres of encroached forestland in Fatiyarghona under Uchitabil Mouza in Chakaria.

The operation, conducted at 11:30am, was led by beat officers with support from range staff, community patrol groups (CPGs), and local villagers. During the drive, eight makeshift plastic shelters were demolished, and approximately 44 yards of GI wire, along with plastic materials, were seized.

Mehraj Uddin, the range officer of Fashiakhali Range under Cox's Bazar North Forest division, said encroachers had been warned to vacate the area, but they refused, which led to the eviction of illegal structures in accordance with the law.

He noted that the perpetrators fled during the operation.

"Legal action against the offenders is underway, and regular drives will continue to protect the forest," he said.

Earlier on Saturday, the Forest Department seized 2,200 yards of GI wire from an elephant corridor during a joint operation by the Nolbila Beat Check Station and Kakara Beat under Fashiakhali Range.

Mehraj Uddin said some individuals set traps using these wires to protect their crops, which poses a significant threat to wild elephants.On February 12, the Forest Department recovered a dead elephant from a tobacco field near the hills in Ghunia, under Fashiakhali Union of Chakaria.

Local residents reported that large-scale tobacco farming exists on the forest land in Chakaria, with farmers in hilly areas using electric traps to safeguard their crops from wild elephants.

One such trap resulted in the death of the elephant.