Authorities filed a case against 16 people after a viral video exposed illegal tree cutting at Barek Tila, a biodiverse tourist hill in Sunamganj threatened by logging and environmental degradation.
Authorities have filed a case against 16 individuals for allegedly cutting and removing government-owned trees from Barek Tila, a popular hilltop tourist destination in Tahirpur upazila near the India-Bangladesh border.
The case was lodged on Thursday night (March 12) at Tahirpur Police Station by Union Assistant Land Officer Ranjan Kumar Das following an on-site verification by local officials.
Among those named are former local chairman Pulok Azim from Anondopur village of Barek Tila along with Mosharraf Hossain Mosa, Hafiz, Manik, Jalal, Ratul Marak, Shahid, Nazrul and others.
The incident came to light after a video circulated on social media showing several people cutting and carrying away trees near the watchtower at Barek Tila. The footage reportedly filmed on Wednesday afternoon (March 11) quickly went viral drawing public attention.
Following the viral video, Shaktiarkhola Beat Officer Ratindra Kishore Roy and Union Assistant Land Officer Ranjan Kumar Das visited the site on March 12 and confirmed that illegal tree felling had taken place.
Ratindra Kishore Roy said, “Evidence shows that a group of 15 to 16 people including a resident named Shahid from Barek Tila have been cutting trees in this area for a long time. After consulting with the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) a case has been filed against them.”
Barek Tila spans around 365 acres under the Dhalairgaon Beat Office in Uttar Borodol Union. Often called the “Eiffel Tower of Bengal,” the hilltop viewpoint offers panoramic views of forests, wetlands and the India-Bangladesh border landscape. It is home to rich biodiversity, indigenous and Bengali settlements and a unique cultural heritage.
Despite its popularity locals and environmental advocates warn that the hill’s ecosystem has been increasingly threatened by illegal logging and environmental degradation over the past decade. They say continued tree cutting could endanger the area’s wildlife, forest cover and eco-tourism potential.
Authorities have pledged further investigation while activists are calling for stricter protection measures to safeguard Barek Tila’s forests, biodiversity and scenic value for future generations.
