Indigenous people resist community afforestation bid

Forest Officer Saidul Islam of Angargara bit filed the case with Bhaluka police station Saturday night. The accused people are from Dumneeghat and Chhitnipara villages in Bhaluka.

On Saturday, hundreds of indigenous people from Dumneeghat and Chhitnipara villages resisted forest officials and employees when they went there to plant saplings under a 'community afforestation programme' covering 75 acres in Dakatia and Angargara villages. Bhaluka police rescued them.

Leaders of local indigenous people told journalists on Sunday that forest officials were pressing them for about three months to participate in the programme without any partnership deeds. They will not allow the afforestation without deeds, they said.

Forest officials claimed that they want partnership and also trained 30 people but deeds will be made later.

Upazila Assistant Forest Keeper Ariful Haque Belal said, "We want to do community afforestation based on partnership with villagers and the programme will be implemented after exchanging opinion with the villagers". He blamed the local bit officer for attempting tree plantation on Saturday without any agreement or understanding with locals.

When contacted yesterday, Sub-Inspector (SI) Ruhul Kaddus of Bhaluka police station and investigation officer (IO) of the case said none was arrested in connection with the case.

Filing of the case created a panic in the area and most males left home to escape arrest, local elders said.

They said they will resist the forest department's community afforestation without partnership deeds.