SYLHET: The plundering of natural plantations like Hijol, Koroch and other trees from different places on the renowned Tanguar Haor in remote Sunamganj has gone rampant in recent days. Such incidents have increased as no action has been taken against the plunderers, locals alleged.
Social and green activist 'Poribesh O Haor Unnayan Sangstha' president Kashmir Reza said amid a weak monitoring system, the natural plantations in the vast marshy land of Tanguar haor are about to be treeless as some organised gangs had been looting the traditional plantations time and again from the huge site. Such activities threaten the habitats of innumerable aquatic fishes and migratory birds and others.
Some locals said the miscreants felled about a hundred Hjiol trees at Alamdoar, Rajair Daroi, Bitorbon last week.
There are four Ansar camps in Ramsinghapur, Golabari, Mujrai, and Rongsi areas to protect the fish and other resources of the renowned Ramsar site for years,” but to no effect”, alleged the locals. Miscreants also catch fishes from the areas, including the sanctuaries illegally, they added.
The ecological balance is being hit badly due to the indiscriminate plundering of fish and plantations.
In charge of the Mujtrai camp Khosrul Alam said once an executive magistrate was entrusted with the monitoring of security arrangement for the Tanguar haor, but the post has been lying vacant at present.
The small number of manpower can't guard a vast area of the waterbody and neighbouring habitats, he claimed to demand adequate members of Ansars and guards.
Tahirpur Upazila Nirbahi officer Raihan Kabir said the plunderers would be booked. None would be spared, he assured, the upazila administration was strictly looking into the situation.
