No safari park in Lathitila forest: TIB

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) on Friday called upon the government to revoke its plan to establish a safari park in Lathitila reserve forest in Moulvibazar.

Besides, the anti-graft watchdog urged the government to ensure accountability and exemplary punishment of those who threaten journalists for publishing news reports on the issue.

In a press release, TIB said Lathitila tropical evergreen forest is one of the country's significant forests, which is full of biodiversity. It questioned the rationality of undertaking such an environment-degrading plan in the name of tourism.

TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said the plan to build a safari park inside a reserve forest -- based on a survey conducted under the leadership of a former forest conservator who was arrested on allegations of corruption -- has put the overall objective of the initiative into question.

"Despite having a national forest and several eco-parks in Moulvibazar, to what extent is it necessary and rational to build a safari park in the tropical evergreen forest?" he asked.

Iftekharuzzaman said concerns that wildlife and environmental experts have raised is not unreasonable. If a safari park and various infrastructures are being built inside the forest, it might lead the wildlife to extinction and damage the biodiversity.

The entire forest could be destroyed in the long run, he added.

Moreover, if the safari park is established there, about 300 families of six villages and other locals who are dependent on the forest might be evicted, the anti-graft watchdog said.

TIB urged authorities concerned to evaluate opinions given by experts and locals.