CHATTOGRAM, Aug 30: The Forest Department has successfully recovered another 100 acres of forest land in Sukhbilas area under Padua union at Rangunia in Chattogram.
The land had been under the control of Ershad Mahmud, the younger brother of former foreign minister Hasan Mahmud.
The foresters recovered the land on Thursday, marking the fourth significant reclamation in just four days since August 26. A total of 200 acres of forest land have been reclaimed.
According to forest officials, Ershad had been occupying 212 acres of forest land in the region since 2009 using his brother's political clout.
Over the years, he has developed various facilities on the land, including tourist centres, bungalows, gardens and livestock farms.
What is more, Ershad reportedly took over water bodies for fish farming.
Khurushia Range officer Mohammad Ashraful Islam under the supervision of Abdullah Al Mamun, divisional forest officer of Chittagong South Forest Division, led the drive.
Mr Islam said, "On Thursday alone, 100 acres were reclaimed at Sukhbilas. Ershad Mahmud had been using this land as a buffalo pasture and also for fish farming in a large pond."
"During the operation, all encroachments, including 10 tin-built houses, were removed. The pond was also drained by cutting its banks."
The forester said that the recovered areas would soon be brought under afforestation, highlighting the department's commitment to reclaiming all forest land occupied over the past 15 years.
The forest department is determined to reclaim all areas under encroachments, thereby restoring the forest land to its rightful state in phases.
Earlier on August 26, the forest management team in a six-hour raid recovered 55 acres of land illegally occupied by Ershad.
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