Let nature reclaim its space

It is a pleasant surprise to know that part of a forest in Chattogram’s Mirsharai, which was cleared to make way for the country’s largest economic zone, has regenerated on its own. According to a Prothom Alo report, more than a decade after the launch of the National Special Economic Zone (NSEZ), a large portion of the land set aside for industrial development remains unused. On 4,104 acres of that land, nature has quietly reclaimed its space. From the stumps of felled trees and seeds dispersed across the area, a new forest has emerged. Species such as gewa, keora, and hargoja have grown there, creating a habitat for deer, snakes, and other wildlife, as well as a refuge for rare marine and waterbirds.

To establish the economic zone, around 13.5 lakh trees were reportedly cut down. But only a small portion of the allocated land has been developed. According to Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), factories are being built on just 600 acres, even though 4,800 acres have been allotted to investors. Large stretches have remained idle for years, allowing vegetation to regenerate naturally. According to the Forest Department, more than 22,000 acres of the area were once under consideration for reserved forest status before being transferred to BEZA. The department is now seeking the return of the 4,104 acres where forest cover remains. Their request deserves serious consideration.

Reports of hundreds of deer inhabiting the area, alongside other wildlife and coastal vegetation, suggest that a functioning ecosystem has taken root. Experts say this forest could help absorb carbon emissions generated by the economic zone, while also serving as a natural shield against cyclones and storm surges in the coastal region.

However, returning the land to the Forest Department alone will not guarantee its protection. Preserving a forest requires effective management, strong monitoring, transparency, and accountability mechanisms. More importantly, our development plans should identify and protect ecologically important areas by default, rather than forcing authorities to decide years later whether a regenerated forest should be preserved. Authorities must also explain why so many trees were felled on a land that then remained unused for years. Nature has already delivered its verdict on this land. The government must now do what is necessary to protect it.