Total of 200 acres of forest land occupied by Hasan Mahmud’s brother recovered in Ctg

The Forest Department has reclaimed an additional 100 acres of forest land from Ershad Mahmud, the younger brother of former foreign minister Hasan Mahmud, in the Rangunia upazila of Chattogram.

The operation to free the illegally occupied land took place on Thursday in the Khurushia Bit area of Padua Union. This brings the total land recovered from Ershad Mahmud to 200 acres over the past four days, beginning on 26 August.

Forest Department officials have stated that they will continue recovering all forest areas unlawfully occupied by him over the last 15 years.

According to the Forest Department, Ershad has been exploiting the land since 2009, using his elder brother’s influence to build facilities including a tourist centre, bungalow, garden, and cow farm. He also occupied water bodies for fish farming.

Attempts to list the encroached land and issue eviction notices were previously stalled due to the former minister’s influence.

Mohammad Ashraful Islam, Range Officer of Khurushia, reported that under the direction of Abdullah Al Mamun, Divisional Forest Officer of Chittagong South Forest Division, the Forest Department has been carrying out the eviction over the last four days.

Ershad Mahmud reportedly used the area for buffalo grazing and fish cultivation in a large pond. During the raid, locals who had built ten tin houses on the land were also evicted, and the pond was drained.

“Afforestation will be carried out in the recovered areas,” added the officer. “Further areas under his control will be vacated in stages.”