The Forest Department on Saturday demolished illegal structures in forest areas of Telihati under Sripur in Gazipur.
Dhaka Forest Department with the assistance of a joint force and upazila administration began the eviction drive at 8.30am in presence of Sripur upazila nirbahi officer Sajib Ahmed and Sripur range officer Mokhlesur Rahman.
Illegal encroachers in Taltali and Murgir Bazar areas of Telihati under Sripur range have been notified by giving notices and miking several times
to move out. But they did not remove their structures, said Forest Department sources.
When the eviction drive started on Saturday morning, they tried to obstruct the eviction work.
Later, the joint force members and forest department officials removed them and demolished more than fifty houses, said Mokhlesur Rahman.
If anyone again establishes illegal structures in the forest area, legal action will be taken against them and regular drives will be conducted to restore the forest land, he added.
Sajib Ahmed said that there was no alternative to afforestation by all to protect the forest land to maintain the balance of the environment.
Everyone must come forward to conserve the forest. Such drives will be conducted regularly to save the forest from illegal encroachment, the UNO said.