Satyajit Das (Moulvibazar Correspondent):
A sudden fire broke out in the Tila Bhoomi and Lawachhara National Park of Head Bangladesh located in Kamalganj, Moulvibazar.
Kamalganj Fire Service and Civil Defense leader Md. Farukul Islam said on Thursday (February 27), 'The fire that started on Wednesday afternoon was brought under control after about three and a half hours of effort.'
According to initial estimates, the fire has burnt about two acres of land. Locals said the fire first broke out in the hilly land on the western side of Head Bangladesh and quickly spread to Lawachhara National Park, causing extensive damage to vegetation and biodiversity.
According to locals, "Immediately after the fire broke out, forest animals started running in all directions in panic. Many animals may have lost their lives, and those that survived have lost their habitat. Numerous trees, vines and forest resources have been burnt."
Lawachara Forest Range Officer Nazmul Islam said, "The fire started from the hilly land of Bangladesh and spread to about one acre of Lawachara forest. The fire was brought under control after forest workers and fire service personnel took quick action. However, it is not yet confirmed how the fire started."
A fire also broke out in a rubber plantation in the same area on Thursday evening, but it was quickly extinguished thanks to the efforts of tea workers.
Local residents are claiming that "someone may have deliberately set fire to the forest or one of the tourists may have smoked a bidi cigarette." They have called for a proper investigation and necessary steps to be taken to prevent such incidents in the future.
