More Than One-Third of Forest Land Encroached in Sylhet

Despite repeated recovery drives, forest land in Sylhet continues to be re-encroached. Due to weak monitoring by the Forest Department or the use of force, criminals repeatedly reclaim cleared land. The local Forest Department has faced the same challenge with 75 hectares of reserved forest land in the Lakshminagar Beat of the Niyagul Haor area in Gowainghat upazila.

After recovering the land to prevent encroachment, the Forest Department initiated murta (locally known as patibet or mustak) cultivation. However, on 1 December, local individuals cut down the murta plants and reoccupied the land. Forest workers were injured when they tried to resist the takeover.

When accused encroachers Maruf Mia and Masud Mia were contacted, they claimed the land belonged to them and that the Forest Department had planted murta illegally, prompting them to cut the plants.

Encroachment has also plagued the Lawachara forest in Moulvibazar, a protected forest and wildlife sanctuary. Forest land has been occupied for betel cultivation, agriculture, and housing. An entire village named Bagmara has emerged on land belonging to the Lawachara Beat.

According to Forest Department records, more than one-third of Sylhet’s forest land is currently under illegal occupation. Official figures state that out of 154,714 acres of forest land, nearly 58,000 acres are encroached. Gowainghat upazila accounts for the highest encroachment, with 20,174 acres occupied.

Over 30,000 acres of encroached land are currently tied up in court cases, some of which have been pending for over two decades.

Forest officials acknowledge manpower shortages and administrative complications. They also allege that proposed forest lands are sometimes leased by district administrations without consulting the Forest Department, further complicating conservation efforts.

Local Khasi leaders reject claims that indigenous communities are encroachers, asserting they are traditional forest dwellers who protect biodiversity rather than destroy it.

EN/HK