A fire that broke out in Moulvibazar’s Lawachara forest on Saturday noon has burnt at least 1.5 acres of land, causing substantial damage to the small trees and biodiversity of the forest.
A team led by Forest Beat Officer Mizanur Rahman of the Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Division was present at the scene to assess the damage and investigate the cause of the fire.
Kamalganj Fire Service was able to bring the fire under control around 3pm, two hours after the fire broke out at the Baghmara Camp area of the forest.
Firefighters faced difficulties in reaching the site due to its remoteness and also suffered due to a scarcity of water.
A two-member probe body – led by Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation Officer Mirza Mehdi – has been formed to investigate the incident.
The committee has been asked to submit a report on its findings within two days.
According to officials concerned and other sources, some workers were working in the student dormitory part of Lawachara forest to clear weeds and plant fruit trees for wild animals when suddenly a fire broke out.
Locals suspect that a vested group intentionally started the fire in order to grab some forest land.
Motaher Hossain, a forest guard at the Baghmara Camp, said: “I do not know how the fire started. The damage dealt by the fire cannot be measured until it is completely doused."
