An attack was allegedly carried out on officials and staff of the Forest Department when they attempted to halt illegal hill cutting on government forest land in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar. Two people—Thainkhali Forest Beat Officer Arafat Mahmud and Forest Department employee Ismail—were injured in the incident.
The incident took place on Tuesday (22 September) afternoon in the Gojogona area under the Thainkhali Beat of the Ukhiya Forest Range.
According to forest department and local sources, upon receiving information that soil was being illegally extracted and trafficked via dump trucks by cutting hills on government forest land in Gojogona, a Forest Department team led by Beat Officer Arafat Mahmud rushed to the spot. The forest officials then intervened to stop the hill cutting.
The Forest Department alleged that a group of people, led by a local named Jasim Uddin, launched an attack on the forest officials and staff over the intervention. The department also alleged that the attackers wielded sharp weapons like machetes (da, kirich) and firearms during the assault.
Beat Officer Arafat Mahmud and Forest Munshi Ismail were injured in the attack. Hearing their cries for help, locals rushed to the scene, rescued them, and took them to the Ukhiya Upazila Health Complex, where they received treatment.
Confirming the incident, Ukhiya Forest Range Officer Abdul Mannan said an attack had indeed been carried out on forest officials and staff. Preparations are underway to take legal action against those involved.
Locals have demanded that those responsible be identified and swiftly brought to justice.
However, attempts to contact Jasim Uddin on his mobile phone for comments regarding the allegations were unsuccessful, as he did not answer the calls.
