Disaster in the making, yet again

Although road construction inside the Lathitila protected forest was halted due to the forest officials' intervention, works have resumed ignoring their concerns, allegedly following the environment minister's order.

A report titled "Disaster averted, for now" on the issue was published in The Daily Star on April 22.

According to LGED and Forest Department sources, around two months ago, LGED floated a tender to construct a one-kilometre road from Lathichhara to Rupachhara through the forest.

It was after the bricks were laid on the pathway to demarcate the road when the matter came to the forest officials' notice.

Salah Uddin, a forester of Lathitila, wrote a letter to the engineer of LGED's upazila office mentioning that no advice or permission was sought from the forest department in this regard and asked to stop the construction immediately.

Alauddin, Juri upazila range officer, told this correspondent that a meeting was held on January 22, 2018, at the Prime Minister's Office regarding the adoption of various development projects in the forest. At that meeting, it was decided that any such development project would require permission from the environment and forests ministry through the forest department.

This correspondent visited the spot on Sunday morning and saw that the road was being dug with excavators. Almost 225 metres of the road were already done, with piles of bricks laid at one point of the road.

Saidul Islam, owner of Paradise Construction -- who got the work tender -- said the official approval from the ministry concerned is currently under process.

Range Officer Alauddin said they have not yet received any written instructions regarding clearance for the construction.

Abdul Matin, an engineer at LGED upazila office, said they had initiated the project following a demand order (DO) letter from the environment ministry.

"I called the minister after the work was halted due to the forest department's intervention. I will talk to Sylhet's divisional forest officer so that the construction is not disrupted again," he added.

Azim Uddin Sardar, executive engineer of LGED Moulvibazar office, confirmed Matin's claim.

Abdul Karim Kim, general secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon's Sylhet chapter, said, "Roads are being built inside the protected forest under the orders of the environment minister. This will endanger the Lathitila forest, its ecology and biodiversity."

Despite repeated attempts, this correspondent could not contact Environment Minister Md Shahab Uddin.