A massive public outcry has erupted in Paikgachha upazila following allegations that members of a local social forestry association have been illegally logging and selling government timber to pocket lakhs of taka, completely bypassing the state treasury.
The irregularities came to light on Sunday morning when local residents witnessed the felling of mature trees directly in front of the Paikgachha Water Development Board office.
Confronted by locals at the logging site, association member Abdur Rashid revealed that the timber harvest was authorized by Jamirul Islam, the secretary of the Paikgachha Social Forestry Association.
"We cut and sell logs every year following instructions from our secretary," Rashid stated to bystanders. "Last year, we sold timber worth approximately Taka 3 lakh, and this year’s haul is expected to fetch around Taka 5 lakh."
Local residents allege that this illegal commercial extraction has been going on for years. Instead of funding local development or being deposited into the government treasury as mandated by social forestry laws, a powerful syndicate is allegedly embezzling the entire revenue.
When questioned about the operations, Jamirul Islam, secretary of the Paikgachha Social Forestry Association, claimed autonomy. "We have been harvesting Nipa palm (Golpata) and timber like this since 2014. We do not answer to anyone," he asserted.
However, Islam completely failed to produce any official government approval, logging permits, or bank receipts proving revenue deposits into the state treasury.
Meanwhile, local Upazila Forest Department officials avoided giving a clear statement on how an independent association has been harvesting public timber completely unchecked for over a decade. Frustrated residents and environmental activists have demanded an immediate, transparent investigation by district authorities to halt the environmental theft and penalize those involved.
