Hill Voice, 24 October 2023, Rangamati: It was alleged that BGB seized timbers of a Jumma trader from Chiberega area under Bagachadar union in Longudu Upazila of Rangamati hill district.

According to local sources, (on 24 Oct. 2023, at 6 am) a BGB team – under the leadership of AD Md. Hafizur Rahman, Gulsakhali, Rajnagar Zone, 37 BGB of Longadu, numbering 30/35 personnel – went to the hill through the Nalua chara, dividing two groups – a group went by jeep and the other by engine driven boat. Searching the whole area, The BGB personnel took away all the timbers found in the search. The total amount of timers 180-200 feet – 61 logs of white teak and 5 logs of teak trees collected from the plantations belonging to Jummas.

There is panic among the people in BGB jurisdiction area due to 24-hour patrolling operations by them in Longadu Upazila. Even, the local people cannot collect trees and bamboos for erecting their houses and other daily works.

At this, on the one hand the people are disrupted to earn their earnings, the plantation owners and timber traders are largely incurred losses.

Notably, on September 29, 2023, on the instructions of zone commander Lt. Colonel Shakeel, 37 BGB Rajnagar Zone, seized and took about 150 cubic feet of teak wood away to the camp owned by Rangaya Chakma, son of- Sharatya Chakma, Village- Chintaram chara, Ward No 5 in Sarwatli Union No 30. The market price of the timbers was estimated about Taka 1 lakh. Those all were from Rangaya chakma’s plantation and holding permit form D.