Maheshkhali mangrove forest burns for third day amid arson claims

A coastal mangrove forest in Maheshkhali has burned for three days amid arson allegations, intensifying concerns over illegal land occupation, biodiversity loss and weak enforcement against environmental destruction.

A vast stretch of coastal mangrove forest in Bangladesh’s southeastern island of Maheshkhali has been burning for three consecutive days after unidentified perpetrators allegedly set fire to the area, local residents said, raising fresh concerns over the destruction of one of the country’s key natural coastal defenses.

The fire broke out on Thursday (June 4) afternoon in the Ghatibhanga area of Kutubjom Union in Maheshkhali Upazila of Cox’s Bazar district. According to residents, attackers poured kerosene across a large section of the mangrove forest before setting it ablaze.

The blaze continued on Friday as World Environment Day was being observed globally and remained active until at least Saturday afternoon, residents said.

Locals alleged that a syndicate of around 30 people led by a man identified as Amir Hossain has been cutting bain trees across thousands of acres of mangrove forest for years. They claim the forest is being cleared to facilitate the illegal occupation of government land under the guise of establishing shrimp farms and salt fields.

Residents further alleged that armed guards have been deployed in the area by the perpetrators, preventing people from approaching the burning forest.

The coastal forest falls under the Maheshkhali Gorakghata Range of the Coastal Forest Division, which oversees 42,294 acres of mangrove forest. According to available records, more than one million bain and keora trees have been cut down over the past several decades and nearly 8,000 acres of forest land have been illegally occupied.

In March and April this year, the Maheshkhali administration conducted several joint operations involving security forces and the Forest Department. On April 2, a case was filed with Maheshkhali Police Station over the encroachment and destruction of approximately 5,000 acres of mangrove forest in the Sonadia and Ghatibhanga areas.

The case alleged environmental damage worth 500 crore taka and named 30 influential individuals as accused, including a local union parishad chairman, several union parishad members and political figures affiliated with the Awami League, BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami.

Environmental activists, however, argue that the real beneficiaries and influential actors behind the destruction continue to evade accountability. They allege that ordinary residents and laborers are instead being subjected to harassment and described the administrative actions as little more than an “eye wash.”

Manowar Hossain, the Gorakghata Forest Range Officer, said authorities were looking into the matter and would consult higher officials before taking legal action.

“We are investigating the incident and will communicate with the higher authorities to take legal measures,” he said.

Maheshkhali Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Imran Mahmud Dalim said several operations and legal cases had previously been initiated against those involved in the destruction of the mangrove forest.

“We will investigate the latest incident of arson and take necessary measures,” he said.

Concerned citizens say effective intervention from the highest levels of government is now essential to protect Maheshkhali Island, which is increasingly viewed as an international commercial hub for Bangladesh, from continued destruction of its coastal mangrove forests.

This post is republished from The Daily Sun.