Some 50 decimals of forestland worth about Tk 5 crore have been grabbed by influential quarters in Bhaluka forest area of the district. The quarters also plundered a number of trees like gajari and akashmoni planted by the forest department, said locals.
The grabbers in cooperation with a section of local influential people have already started construction of a boundary wall and a multistoried building for a factory on the land. Sharifur Rahman Khan, beat officer of Hobirbari forest area, said on information, they went to the land, demolished some pillars and establishments and stopped the construction work on July 23.
He said they also detained four workers -- Sadiqul Islam, Montaz Ali, Shaheen Miah and Shahidul Islam -- from the spot. Later, a case was filed against five people, including the arrestees under Forest Act. Gobinda Roy, divisional forest officer in Mymensingh, said punitive action would be taken against the grabbers as a case was filed against them.