3 detained for smuggling timber from Sundarbans

Forest Department officials have detained three men while they were allegedly attempting to smuggle wood from Goran trees -- a protected species banned from logging in the Sundarbans.

Solaiman Kabir, officer at Munshiganj South Kadamtala Station under the Forest Department's Satkhira Range, said the three were arrested around 12:30am on Wednesday from the Harinagar Food Storage area in Shyamnagar Upazila.

The detainees are Md Kamal Hossain, Md Rashedul Islam, and van driver Md Akbar Hossain.

Solaiman said, “The van filled with Goran wood was seized during a raid based on a tip-off. Three people were arrested in the raid for smuggling illegally obtained Goran wood. A case will be filed against them under the Forest Act, after which they will be presented in court on Wednesday.”

One of the accused, Kamal, claimed they were abducted by a gang of forest bandits called "Alim Bahini". He alleged that the bandits demanded a ransom of 200 pieces of Goran wood to be sent over to gang member Abdullah’s house.

According to Kamal, the men were merely obeying the gang’s orders when transporting the illegal wood to Abdullah’s house in the Jelekhali village of Munshiganj.