The recent developments concerning a mangrove forest in Chattogram’s Sitakunda upazila are alarming, as the district administration has created a recreational park by cutting down numerous trees. The affected area, approximately 194 acres in North Salimpur mauza, was designated as forest land under Section 4 of the Forest Act on January 9, 1986. Mangroves were subsequently planted by the Coastal Forest Division during the 1990–91 fiscal year. Despite this legal protection, the Chattogram district administration proceeded with the construction of a park, citing ownership of the land in its official record of rights known as the khatian. This action has sparked a dispute between the forest department and the district administration over land control.
According to the Forest Act of 1927, land classified under Section 4 as forest and officially recorded as such cannot be repurposed. The Supreme Court reaffirmed this principle in a verdict on October 6, 2013, emphasizing the importance of preserving such forest land. However, despite objections from forest officials, the district administration went ahead with the development of DC Park, resulting in the felling of over 5,000 trees and the construction of various structures, restaurants, seating areas, and pathways. Satellite images from 2018 to 2025 provide visual evidence of the extent of habitat loss.
Instances of governmental encroachment on protected areas have been observed before, as demonstrated by previous incidents involving the Roads and Highways Department seeking land within a reserve forest for road expansion and the Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board attempting to install power lines through another reserved forest, disregarding objections from the forest department. This recurring theme raises the question of why state entities perceive forests as unoccupied land rather than recognizing them as legally safeguarded ecosystems crucial for the nation’s climate resilience.
The mangrove forests in Sitakunda and Mirsarai have consistently demonstrated their significance by acting as natural barriers against major cyclones, mitigating storm surges and erosion, and preserving biodiversity. Destruction of these forests removes a vital protective barrier, leaving coastal communities vulnerable to cyclones, floods, and irreparable ecological harm. Returning control of the land to the forest department could facilitate the creation of a coastal greenbelt, reinforcing natural defenses while promoting wildlife conservation, water management, and air quality improvement. It is imperative for the government to address the ongoing dispute between the forest department and the Chattogram district administration promptly and take decisive action to safeguard the mangrove forests in Sitakunda.