Bangladesh’s forestlands, vital for biodiversity and environmental sustainability, remain under significant threat as large areas of these lands have been illegally occupied for decades. Despite numerous calls for action and a recent change in government, the authorities have yet to implement effective measures to reclaim these lands from influential grabbers.
The interim government, formed on August 8 after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League regime, has so far failed to take substantial steps to evict forest grabbers. Environmentalists and experts argue that forest degradation continues due to a lack of political will, limited resources, and the complicity of some forest officials.
The Scale of the Problem
The forest department owns approximately 46,00,000 acres of land, classified as “reserved forests” and “protected forests.” However, the 2021 forest department survey revealed that 2,56,000 acres of forestland have been illegally occupied by 1,60,000 grabbers since the country’s independence.
While the forest department reclaimed 31,000 acres of land between 2021 and June 2024, most of these efforts were concentrated in regions like the Hill Tracts, Sylhet, Gazipur, Mymensingh, and Tangail. Following the fall of the previous government in August, an additional 500 acres of forestland—allegedly grabbed by political leaders—have been reclaimed.
Officials estimate that eviction requests sent to local deputy commissioners’ offices involve 250,000 acres of grabbed forestland, but meaningful action has been minimal. The chief conservator of forests, Amin Hossain, claimed that land reclamation efforts had recently accelerated, but critics point out that these efforts remain inconsistent and insufficient.
Political Influence in Forest Grabbing
Forest grabbing in Bangladesh is closely tied to political power and local influence. Experts like Mohammed Al-Amin, a professor of forestry and environmental sciences at Chittagong University, argue that the vulnerability of forestland stems from the nation’s land scarcity. “Forestland, often seen as unlocked land, is especially vulnerable in a land-hungry country like Bangladesh,” he remarked.
He added that sal forests, found in central Bangladesh, are particularly at risk due to their proximity to urban and industrial zones. He blamed political interference, manpower shortages, and inadequate logistics for the forest department’s failure to act effectively.
“Political power is deeply integrated into the grabbing process, with influential individuals and industries claiming forestland for private use,” he noted.
A striking example of this is the 155 acres of reclaimed land in Cox’s Bazar and Chattogram, previously occupied by the Bangladesh Forest Industries Development Corporation. Additionally, 200 acres of land in Rangunia, illegally occupied by the brother of a former environment minister, and 15 acres in Moulvibazar grabbed by a former agriculture minister, were recently reclaimed.
However, experts argue that these isolated victories are not enough to counter the systematic encroachment on forestland that has occurred over decades.
Industries, Shrimp Farms, and Religious Establishments on Forestland
Illegally occupied forestlands in Bangladesh often host industries, shrimp enclosures, farms, resorts, and even places of worship. Coastal forestlands, in particular, have been converted into shrimp farms due to government decisions encouraging such ventures.
According to Philip Gain, executive director of the Society for Environment and Human Development, the government’s flawed policies have encouraged the grabbing of coastal forestland, further endangering Bangladesh’s fragile ecosystems. Gain also criticized the forest department’s grabbers’ list, which he claimed wrongly includes the names of some indigenous communities that have traditionally lived in forests.
Experts note that while the department has filed thousands of legal cases and submitted eviction requests, the enforcement of these efforts remains weak due to local resistance and political interference.
The Human and Environmental Impact
Forest degradation in Bangladesh is not just an environmental issue but also a humanitarian one. In addition to the threats posed to biodiversity and climate resilience, the loss of forest cover has displaced indigenous communities and traditional forest dwellers.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), between 1990 and 2015, Bangladesh lost an average of 2,600 hectares of primary forest annually. This represents a steady decline in forest coverage, which dropped from 1.494 million hectares in 1990 to 1.429 million hectares in 2015.
Experts warn that continued deforestation—caused by grabbing, over-exploitation, and the conversion of forestland into agricultural or industrial zones—will exacerbate the impacts of climate change, including rising temperatures, flooding, and biodiversity loss.
Systemic Issues in Reclamation Efforts
The forest department has faced criticism for its inaction and complicity in forest grabbing. Many officials lack the resources to conduct large-scale eviction drives, while others are reportedly involved in “unholy nexuses” with influential grabbers.
Chief conservator Amin Hossain admitted that the department had failed to act against politically connected grabbers in the past but insisted that recent drives were targeting these individuals. He also highlighted the logistical and administrative hurdles in reclaiming forestland, including the need to update the grabbers’ list and correct land records.
Experts like Mohammed Al-Amin stress the importance of increasing manpower and strengthening the forest department’s operational capacity. Without these changes, they argue, the department will continue to struggle against entrenched political and economic interests.
A Path Toward Sustainable Forest Management
To tackle the longstanding issue of forest grabbing, environmental activists and researchers are calling for systemic reforms. They emphasize the need for:
- Enhanced Political Will: Stronger commitment from political leaders to hold influential grabbers accountable.
- Reforming Forest Governance: A transparent, well-coordinated system to manage forestland and prevent future encroachments.
- Restoring Ecosystems: Reclaiming grabbed land and reforesting degraded areas to protect biodiversity and enhance climate resilience.
- Respecting Indigenous Rights: Removing indigenous communities from the grabbers’ list and integrating their traditional knowledge into sustainable forest management practices.
Gain noted that government institutions must address structural issues to reclaim and protect forestlands effectively. “The government must act decisively to evict grabbers, correct flawed policies, and prevent further encroachment,” he said.
With environmental degradation accelerating and the impacts of climate change intensifying, reclaiming Bangladesh’s forestland is not just a national priority but a global one.
