Dhaka: The government has promulgated a new ordinance imposing stringent financial penalties to curb forest land encroachment and safeguard the country's ecological balance. The ordinance aims to regulate the use of forest land for non-forest purposes, prevent encroachment, and ensure proper conservation of forests and forest land.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the ordinance was issued by the Printing and Publications Branch of the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Department of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. It was published in the form of a gazette for public interest, as stated by the public relations officer of the ministry.
Under the new ordinance, individuals cutting down protected or prohibited trees without permission will face fines of up to Taka one lakh, while organizations could be fined up to Taka three lakh. The ordinance mandates obtaining prior permission from the Divisional Forest Officer (Tree Preservation Officer) for cutting any tree in government or public areas. Specific procedures prescribed by the Forest Department must also be followed for cutting certain species of trees on privately owned land.
The ordinance emphasizes the importance of environmental protection by stipulating that natural forest land cannot be used for non-forest purposes. It categorizes fines based on the type of offense, with penalties for various infractions related to tree cutting and forest land use.
For instance, cutting a tree from the government-announced 'cutting prohibited' list can result in a court-imposed fine of up to Taka one lakh. There are additional fines for unauthorized tree cutting and damaging trees by attaching nails or metal objects. Organizations violating the law could face fines of up to Taka three lakh.
The ordinance also includes provisions for 'compensatory afforestation' if forest land is used for non-forest purposes due to national necessity. The Forest Department has been granted special powers for boundary determination, technology-based monitoring, and evicting encroachers. However, exceptions are made for cutting privately owned trees that are diseased, dead, or pose public safety threats, without requiring prior permission.
Additionally, the ordinance ensures that the traditional and customary forest rights of small ethnic groups in the Chattogram Hill Tracts are not violated. This ordinance will serve as a supplement to the Forest Act, 1927.