Hill Voice, 25 June 2025, Bandarban: On June 21, 2025, it was reported that the Lama Forest Department demolished banana and papaya plantations cultivated by the Mro community at Menthok Mro Para and Kaingwai Mro Para areas of Ward No. 8 of Nayapara Union in Alikadam Upazila of Bandarban district. Local residents indicated that a team from the Alikadam Range of the Lama Forest Department, including officers and forest guards, cut down approximately 1,200 banana trees and four high-yield papaya trees across around six acres of land owned by community members Yang Bo Mro, Rengthang Mro, and Ding Wai Mro, without prior notification or consultation. Following the destruction of the plantations, the forest officials proceeded to plant koroi, gamari, and krishna chura trees before departing from the site.

Victim Ding Wai Mro said, “Two years ago, four families together planted about 1,450 banana trees here. Without any warning or instruction, forest department cut down our banana plantation. They even cut down the fruit-bearing banana trees.”

Yang Bo Mro added, “The newly planted Jum paddy, sown just two months ago, had begun to sprout. While planting their saplings, the forest department officials trampled and destroyed our paddy seedlings.”

The residents who were impacted reported that when they inquired about the reasons behind the tree removals, a forest official issued a threat, warning them that if they informed journalists or others about the situation, they could be implicated in charges related to the destruction of the reserve forest and illegal tree cutting. Initially intimidated, the villagers chose to remain quiet, but following community discussions, they ultimately resolved to bring the issue to the attention of the media.

At the same time, the forest department has failed to take action against Bengali settlers who’ve set up plantations in the Matamuhuri Reserve, including spots near the viewpoint and by bridges No. 8 and 10, as well as around Yangring Mro Para.

Forest officials mentioned, “The government can create forests wherever it wants, and that’s just how it is.” In response, the Mro villagers are really upset and stated, “We’ve lived here and practiced Jum cultivation for generations. If the government plans to create a forest here, they need to talk to us first and take our views into account. But the forest department just went ahead and did this without any discussion.”