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Stringent law to protect Bhawal park suggested

REZAUL KARIM
A high-powered committee on Bhawal National Park has recommended stringent legislation aimed to conserve this natural forest and its rich biodiversity, considered vial for preserving the ecosystem of the region including Dhaka.
Proper enforcement of all previous government orders and gazette notifications relating to the forest must be ensured, it stressed.
The committee suggested a ban
on any constructions or setting up of commercial and other establishments on privately owned land in the 2,572-acre core area of the national park in the 11,252.88-acre Bhawal forest.
It asked for immediate acquisition of 432.5 acres of private land in the core area of the park and recovery of illegally occupied forest land.
The committee's recommendations are based on a series of spot visits and discussions with environment experts, researchers and local officials, committee sources said.
The government in 1982 declared the forest as a national park to protect the forest, the fabled Bhawal Raja's heritage, for educational, research and recreation purposes.
The six-member body headed by the director general of the Department of Environment was formed on April 18 this year to examine whether the government should allow commercial use of privately owned land in the forest area. Officials pointed out there was growing pressure from different quarters to allow setting up of industries and other installations, including a private university, on the privately-owned land in the park, home to various species of birds and animals.
The committee noted that the government on May 15, 1990 banned any permanent or temporary lease of land in the forest area and ordered cancellation of all previous lease orders. On July 11, 1995, the government also decided not to allow setting up of small and cottage industries, agriculture, poultry and dairy farms on private lands in the forest area.
A gazette notification on November 11, 1999 prohibited setting up of any installations, including industries, farms and houses in the national park.
But the committee found as many as 196 industries and other installations have been established since the forest was declared a national park.
Two poultry and fishery farms, a private primary school, a mosque and some 70 thatched houses are located in the core area of the park.
The Department of Environment gave clearance certificates to 16 industries in the forest.
The committee suggested immediate removal of the installations in the core area of the park.
It suggested identifying the Bhawal National Park area as "Greater Park Area" and bring the pieces of private land in and around the forest into its fold. It strongly recommended strict implementation of the government orders that banned all sorts of construction and establishment in the entire forest area.
The committee however avoided making any comments on a proposal of the army for 221.78 acres of land in the natural forest for establishing a brigade group under Gazipur Cantonment.
Official sources said the army had earlier taken control of over 700.77 acres in Bhawal area, including 16.80 acres in the forest.
The forest department has objected to giving more land to the army.
A top official of the environment ministry said, "It is a sensitive matter".
He however said the committee clearly recommended banning of any installations in the forest area. So, there is no need to mention the army proposal separately, he added.