Liberation War Affairs Minister Orders Transfer of Sakhipur Forest Official Over Alleged Corruption and Harassment
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Minister of Liberation War Affairs A.K.M. Mozammel Haque, who represents the Tangail-8 constituency, has ordered the immediate transfer of a forest range official following a controversial eviction drive in the Sakhipur upazila of Tangail.
The minister issued the directive to the Tangail Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Md. Nazmul Alam, via a public phone call on Sunday afternoon at the Holudiachala Bazar. The instruction was delivered over a loudspeaker in the presence of local residents, journalists, and members of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
Addressing the DFO, the minister demanded that Range Officer Emran Ali be transferred within 24 hours. The minister alleged that Ali had initially permitted the construction of a tin-shed structure in the Holudiachala area in exchange for bribes, only to facilitate the demolition of the same structure later after the owner allegedly failed to provide further payments. The minister declared that he would not allow his constituents to be harassed, claiming that the forest department allows construction if paid, but files lawsuits against those who refuse to pay.
The eviction took place on the morning of August 9, when the forest department demolished a roughly 90-foot-long tin-shed structure at the Holudiachala market. While local residents assert that they possess registered land deeds for the site, the forest department maintains that the property is designated as protected forest land. The dispute is part of a long-standing conflict between the forest department and local inhabitants regarding land ownership under the Attia Forest-82 Ordinance.
In his defense, Range Officer Emran Ali dismissed the allegations of bribery and corruption as entirely baseless and fictitious. He stated that he was merely executing orders from his superiors and noted that the demolition operation was led by the Assistant Conservator of Forests, Rana Deb. Ali emphasized that he had no personal interest in the matter and remains committed to forest conservation efforts.
The Divisional Forest Officer, Md. Nazmul Alam, could not be reached for comment despite multiple attempts to contact him via telephone.
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