5,000 acres forest destroyed in Cox’s Bazar, claims minister

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud on Wednesday said around 5,000 acres of forest were destroyed in Cox’s Bazar due to rehabilitation of forcibly displaced Rohinghya people.

“Actually, the environmental situation of Cox’s Bazar district is very critical…forests on about 5,000 acres of land have been destroyed in the district,” he said while briefing reporters after participating at the today’s first session of the three-day DC conference at the Secretariat in Dhaka.

Anisul Islam said: “Under this circumstance, we are planning to supply alternative fuel to the Rohingyas to stop felling trees in the district.”

He said importance has also been given on afforestation aiming to restore forest in the damaged area.

The Environment Minister said different environmental issues, including hill cutting, leasing and grabbing of forest land, and river pollution and grabbing, were discussed at the session today.

About the consequence of landslide in Cox’s Bazar, he said cutting trees indiscriminately is the main reason behind landslides, adding that permanent eviction of settlers from hill slopes can only check causalities in landslide incidents, reports BSS.

Deputy Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Abdullah Al Islam Jacob, Secretary-in-Charge of the ministry Abdullah Al Mohsin Chowdhury, Director General of the Department of Environment (DoE) Dr Sultan Ahmed and Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF) Mohammad Shafiul Alam Chowdhury were, among others, present.