A reserve forest and an industrial park at war | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Saturday
July 12, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
SATURDAY, JULY 12, 2025
A reserve forest and an industrial park at war

Environment

Rafiqul Islam
28 December, 2021, 02:10 pm
Last modified: 28 December, 2021, 04:44 pm

Related News

  • The bitter aftertaste of Madhupur's sweet pineapples
  • Nutrition campaign held in Jamalpur on cooking demonstration
  • Stakeholders convene at BSCIC to discuss CMSM sector outlook
  • Two factories vandalised in Fatullah BSCIC area
  • What fuels our appetite for turning wild forests into parks?

A reserve forest and an industrial park at war

Tangail district administration has already issued a no-objection certificate for land acquisition in Madhupur reserve forest

Rafiqul Islam
28 December, 2021, 02:10 pm
Last modified: 28 December, 2021, 04:44 pm
BSCIC Industrial Park in Madhupur forest
TBS Infograph

The Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (Bscic) has moved toward constructing an "environment-friendly" industrial park spanning 214 acres of land –  equivalent to around 161 football fields – in Madhupur reserve forest by felling trees.    

According to the Bscic plan, small and medium scale entrepreneurs in the industrial park right beside the Madhupur-Mymensingh road will be processing pineapples and other fruits that grow abundantly in the swathe.      

But the local forest department office, the owner of the land, disagrees over the setting up of the industrial zone right in the woods in Madhupur upazila over concerns related to deforestation. Besides, the local environment department office says if the park is set up there, regular industrial operations "will severely harm the trees".  

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

On condition of anonymity, a forest official said the forestry authorities will not allow the Bscic plan to be implemented, unless high-ups of the government order them to overlook the tree felling.

Since the park cannot be set up without an environmental clearance certificate, Bscic is now collecting required approvals from several government offices to leverage them against forest department objections. The Tangail district administration has already issued a no-objection certificate for the park.

According to Bscic documents, the land will be developed after acquisition. Infrastructures such as roads, drains and culverts, dumping yards, water and power supply lines and a common effluent treatment plant will be built later on.       

"The Bscic move to set up the park in the reserve forest is illegal as it contradicts the constitution, forest law and directives of the High Court," said Syeda Rizwana Hasan, a noted green activist and chief executive of the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela).

Bscic turned to Madhupur from a previous location, but why?

Madhupur is famous for pineapples, jackfruits and other seasonal fruits. However, a large portion of the fruits rots every season as there is no preservation or processing facility there.

In 2016, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina promised local residents in Madhupur a fruit processing industry. Subsequently, Bscic chose Mymensingh's Muktagacha upazila – a region near Madhupur – for the processing zone.

But the small and cottage industries corporation in 2019 changed the location of its project to Tangail's Madhupur. Bscic officials say they changed the location as entrepreneurs preferred Madhupur instead of Muktagacha, citing easier transportations and communication regarding the area.

In 2020, Bscic officials along with officials of the local administration visited the forest. By early 2021, the industrial park plan had made progress.     

"We protested the land selection in the first place during the visit. But they did not heed our protests," a forest official of Madhupur range told The Business Standard.

Drawing-design for civil works complete

The small and cottage industries corporation is a leading public sector entity engaged in the development and expansion of small and cottage industries in the country.

To accelerate industrialisation, Bscic acquires land, builds industrial plots and allocates those among entrepreneurs. Since its inception in 1957, Bscic has built 76 industrial parks across the country.

According to the corporation, there will be several hundred plots at Madhupur industrial park, with the initial cost estimated at around Tk400 crore. The corporation has already completed the drawing and design of the infrastructures.

After the cost of power is estimated and the feasibility study report is obtained, the development project proposal will be revised and submitted to the industries ministry. The ministry will forward the project proposal to the Planning Commission.      

Development at what cost?

Environmental lawyer Syeda Rizwana Hasan said the government should first decide whether there will be only industries and production units in the country, or some rivers and forests too. Referring to the constitution, she said the government is obliged to protect forests and water bodies.

She said the High Court has ordered the preservation of 43,000 acres of Madhupur Sal forest after demarcating the boundaries. The industrial park plan, she noted, is in conflict with the order.

Highlighting the environmental pollution in other Bscic industrial parks, she said, "The corporation cannot be trusted in any way regarding the environment. I have seen what has happened at the Savar tannery estate."

Muhammad Jamal Hossain Talukder, assistant conservator of forests in Tangail, said, "Generally it is not possible to build an industrial park in a reserve forest. If an industrial park is to be built there, the forest must be declared as a de-reserved area first."

Rashedur Rahman, deputy general manager of Bscic, told The Business Standard that the industrial park will be developed by maintaining compliance with rules. He said the "environment-friendly" park will have green space, an LPG station, a common effluent treatment plant, and will generate jobs.

He claimed some of the land earmarked for the park falls within the reserve forest, and that the site includes private properties.

"The project will be finalised after approval is received from the appropriate offices," he added. 

 

Top News

BSCIC / Industrial city / Reserve forest / Madhupur / Forest Conservation

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Bangladesh and US hold tariff talks on 11 July 2025. Photo: CA Press Wing
    Dhaka, Washington to continue inter-ministerial dialogue as tariff talks end without full consensus
  • Infograph: TBS
    Costly delays and doubts: Dhaka's BRT project spirals further with 55% cost jump
  • Photo: UNB
    WHO's Saima Wazed Putul 'placed on indefinite leave' amid corruption allegations

MOST VIEWED

  • In terms of stream of education, girls maintained their excellence as well. Photo: TBS
    SSC 2025: Girls dominate boys by over 5%
  • Photo: Mohammad Minhaj Uddin/TBS
    SSC, equivalent results: Pass rate drops to 68.45%, GPA-5 also declines
  • The overall pass rate across all boards this year, 68.45%, is significantly lower than last year's. Photo: Focus Bangla
    SSC 2025: Rajshahi board records highest pass rate, Barishal lowest
  • How S Alam’s Global Islami Bank cooked Tk2,259cr loss into Tk128cr profit
    How S Alam’s Global Islami Bank cooked Tk2,259cr loss into Tk128cr profit
  • Representational image. Photo: TBS
    SSC 2025: 73.63% pass rate among technical students, 68.09% at Madrasahs
  • Economist Abul Barkat; Photo: Courtesy
    Economist Abul Barkat arrested in graft case

Related News

  • The bitter aftertaste of Madhupur's sweet pineapples
  • Nutrition campaign held in Jamalpur on cooking demonstration
  • Stakeholders convene at BSCIC to discuss CMSM sector outlook
  • Two factories vandalised in Fatullah BSCIC area
  • What fuels our appetite for turning wild forests into parks?

Features

After India's visa restriction, China's Kunming is drawing Bangladeshi patients

After India's visa restriction, China's Kunming is drawing Bangladeshi patients

14h | Panorama
Photo: Collected/BBC

What Hitler’s tariff policy misfire can teach the modern world

1d | The Big Picture
Illustration: TBS

Behind closed doors: Why women in Bangladesh stay in abusive marriages

1d | Panorama
Purbachl’s 144-acre Sal forest is an essential part of the area’s biodiversity. Within it, 128 species of plants and 74 species of animals — many of them endangered — have been identified. Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain/TBS

A forest saved: Inside the restoration of Purbachal's last Sal grove

1d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Renowned economist Abul Barkat imprisoned

Renowned economist Abul Barkat imprisoned

12h | TBS Today
All of Iran's uranium still intact, Israel claims

All of Iran's uranium still intact, Israel claims

12h | TBS World
Trump-Netanyahu in new strategy on Gaza issue

Trump-Netanyahu in new strategy on Gaza issue

14h | TBS World
Shocking science: why birds stay safe on electricity lines

Shocking science: why birds stay safe on electricity lines

15h | TBS Stories
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net