Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB) urged the authorities concerned to cancel the plan to convert the wildlife sanctuary protected Lathitila forest in Moulvibazar district into a safari park.
The corruption watchdog also demanded that those involved in threatening journalists for publishing news in this regard to be held accountable.
TIB made the demands at a media statement on Friday expressing its anger and concern over the forest department's plan to build the safari park in Lathitila forest, the tropical evergreen and one of the country's most biodiversity forests, and threatening journalists over publishing reports on it.
TIB questioned the rationale for adopting such an environmentally destructive project in the name of tourism, adding that “it is considering the intimidation of the concerned media personnel as a threat to the independent media.”
The proposal to build the country's third safari park in Lathitila forest also raised grave concerns among environmentalists as such a move would threaten the biodiversity of the forest area, and people living in the area could be evicted.
The plan to build a safari park in the protected forest based on a survey led by a former forest department official who had been arrested on charges of corruption, irregularities and bribery, has raised questions about the purpose of the plan, TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said in the statement.
“What caused it to set up a safari park in the tropical evergreen forest in Moulvibazar despite there being several eco-parks and national park,” Dr Zaman questioned.
“It is not unreasonable for wildlife and environmentalists to fear that the establishment of the safari park and various infrastructures in protected forests will lead to the extinction of wildlife, including the destruction of biodiversity, and the long-term destruction of entire forests,” he continued.
