Two forest officials sustained injuries in a violent encounter with robbers in Chattogram’s Fatikchhari upazila early this morning while responding to reports of unauthorized logging in a protected forest. The incident unfolded at approximately 5:30am in the Uttar Kharliya area within the Hasanabad Range of the Chattogram North Forest Division. The injured individuals are Hasanabad Range Officer Sifat Al Rabbani and forest guard Md Sohel. Rabbani sustained wounds on his left wrist, below his eye, and near his elbow, while Sohel suffered a machete cut on his right knee. Following initial treatment at the Fatikchhari Upazila Health Complex, they were transferred to the Chattogram Medical College Hospital.
Anisur Rahman, the deputy range officer of the Narayanhat Forest Range, reported that the attack occurred when a three-person forest team responded to a tip-off about illegal tree felling in the Ramgarh–Sitakunda protected forest. Rahman stated that the forest team successfully apprehended two robbers, but subsequently, a group of five to seven additional gang members armed with makeshift weapons assaulted the officials. Fortunately, forest guard Moniruzzaman managed to escape unharmed.
Expressing concern over the incident, Md Shafiqul Islam, the divisional forest officer of the Chattogram North Forest Division, commented, “This is a regrettable incident. We are currently in the process of lodging a criminal complaint with the local police station, and the perpetrators will also face legal repercussions under the Forest Act.”