Paving road inside forest draws flak

The Roads and Highways Department has taken an initiative to pave an old brick road running through the Harargaj Reserved Forest on the border of Kulaura and Juri upazilas in Moulvibazar. The Forest Department, however, has objected to the move, citing concerns over potential damage to the environment and wildlife.

According to sources at the RHD and the Forest Department, the road stretches for about 11 kilometres from the Gazipur area of Kulaura to Sagarnal Tea Garden in neighbouring Juri. A section of around three kilometres runs through the Harargaj Reserved Forest, which lies on the boundary of the two upazilas.

The Gazipur end of the road connects to the Moulvibazar–Barlekha regional highway, while the Sagarnal Tea Garden end links with the Juri–Botuli Customs Station regional highway. The stretch inside the forest is currently brick-paved.

To address this, the RHD recently undertook a project to renovate a 5.1-kilometre stretch from Rehena Tea Garden to Sagarnal Tea Garden in Kulaura, at an estimated cost of about Tk 11 crore. The work was awarded to Kulaura-based contractor Muhibur Rahman.

When workers from the contracting company went to begin work inside the reserved forest area in mid-November, Forest Department officials informed them that no work could be carried out there without prior permission. Construction activities in that section were subsequently halted.

Assistant Conservator of Forests Nazmul Alam said the Harargaj forest covers 12,194 acres and is home to various species of trees and wild animals.

Sources from both departments said following the Forest Department’s objection, Kaiser Hamid, executive engineer of the RHD Moulvibazar office, wrote to the Sylhet divisional forest officer on November 25.

In a reply dated December 4, DFO Abdur Rahman wrote to the RHD executive engineer that Harargaj forest is a natural forest rich in biodiversity, and paving a road inside it would damage the environment and biodiversity.

The letter also noted that the National Forest Policy of 1994 does not allow forest land to be used for non-forestry purposes without approval from the head of government.

During a recent visit, renovation work was seen underway at several points near Sagarnal Tea Garden. Workers were digging up the road after removing old bricks, while bushes on both sides were cut and cleared.

The brick-paved road inside the forest was found to be largely deserted and quiet, flanked by dense bamboo groves and natural trees on both sides.

Asked about the current status of the renovation work, Kaiser Hamid said some portions of the Kulaura–Sagarnal road fall within forest land and that it is an old road in poor condition.

“We have not taken on any new project, nor are we widening the road. We have only taken the initiative to repair it due to its poor condition. However, the Forest Department has objected to work inside the forest,” he said.

He said the intervention of the Moulvibazar deputy commissioner has been sought to resolve the issue, and that the matter may be discussed at the district administration’s monthly coordination meeting.