Desk Report,
Another eviction at the shipbreaking factory built by cutting down forests in Sitakunda
The eviction drive is underway at the controversial shipbreaking factory built by cutting down forests in Sitakunda, Chittagong. Photo taken this morning: Jewel Shil
Another eviction at the shipbreaking factory built by cutting down forests in Sitakunda
The second phase of the eviction drive has begun at the controversial shipbreaking factory built by cutting down forests in Sitakunda, Chittagong, from Wednesday morning. The factory was demolished in the first phase on June 25. The district administration is currently carrying out eviction activities on some other establishments and the remaining parts of the building in the factory area.
Along with the eviction, the Forest Department will officially start tree plantation at the Tulatali Mouza area of Salimpura area of Sitakund on Wednesday. For this, 2,000 trees of different species have been brought to the place. In the first phase, 2,000 saplings of different trees will be planted there. Sitakunda Upazila Executive Officer Md. Fakhrul Islam will inaugurate the tree plantation program.
Sitakunda Upazila Executive Officer Md. Fakhrul Islam told Prothom Alo around 10 am, “We will start tree plantation in a while. The Forest Department has brought saplings for this. Apart from this, eviction activities are being carried out on the remaining part of the factory.”
Sitakunda Assistant Commissioner (Land) Abdullah Al Mamun is also involved in the eviction campaign. Apart from this, Assistant Conservator of Forests of the Coastal Forest Department Abul Kalam Azad, Range Officer Md. Rasheduzzaman are present. Range Officer Rasheduzzaman said, ‘We have brought two thousand saplings of three species – Jhau, Karanja and Hijal. They will be planted here. Earlier, about five thousand trees were destroyed here by the people of the shipbreaking factory.’
The district administration had twice granted permission to lease the forest land for setting up a shipbreaking factory. After objections, the lease was cancelled again. This factory named Kohinoor Steel was established by a person named Abul Kashem. He is known as ‘Raja Kashem’.
