Forest felled, streams buried: Illegal timber trade devastates Bandarban’s Dim Pahar

At nearly 2,500 feet above sea level, the Alikadam–Thanchi road winds through some of Bandarban's most beautiful landscapes. Clouds drift between steep green ridges, waterfalls cut through the hills, and sharp bends disappear into silence. But beyond that postcard beauty, an environmental disaster has been unfolding quietly inside the remote hills of Dim Pahar.

On 22 April, at the 23 Kilo point near Dim Pahar, a narrow vine-covered path appeared on the left side of the road, almost invisible from the highway. But from that concealed trail emerged a truck covered with blue tarpaulin. Underneath the tarpaulin were freshly felled logs.

Two workers sat inside the truck while another at the back fled into the forest after spotting us taking photographs. The vehicle then drove towards Alikadam.

Following that hidden path downhill for nearly 15 minutes revealed the scale of the destruction: Large stacks of freshly cut timber lay scattered across the slopes. Some logs had been split in half, others shaped into square timber blocks.

Timber is regularly being transported through a bypass route known as Kolar Jiri to avoid the army checkpoint at 23 Kilo on the Alikadam–Thanchi road.

Fresh tree stumps dotted the hillsides. Leaves on many of the felled trees were still green, and the soil around the roots remained damp, suggesting the trees had been cut only hours earlier.

Further down, the Byangjhari stream, once a vital water source for indigenous Mro communities, lay partially buried beneath piles of logs and debris. Along a stretch of nearly two and a half kilometres, the large trees of the community-managed "Parabon" forest had been systematically cleared.

Residents and local leaders claim that nearly 200 acres of natural forest in and around Pamiya Mro Para, Tantui Para, Namchak Para, Kakoi Para and Adoi Para in Ward 9 of Chaikhyong union have been devastated by a timber trafficking syndicate operating in the remote Alikadam–Thanchi border region.

The area lies around 127 kilometres from Bandarban district headquarters and approximately 18 kilometres from Alikadam. After travelling along the Alikadam–Thanchi road and then walking for about an hour into the hills, the destruction became impossible to ignore.

Local residents say hills have been cut open to create roads suitable for truck transport. Excavators have allegedly been used regularly to carve through hills and rocks, while logging debris and road construction have obstructed the natural flow of streams.

Trees being felled include garjan, champa flower trees, koroi, bailam, gutgutia, lali and chapalish — species once common across the dense forest.

Known locally as "Parabon" or "Parabam", these are community-preserved woodlands maintained by indigenous hill communities for collective use. Though socially managed, large trees cannot legally be cut without permission from the forest department.

Hills have been cut open to create roads suitable for truck transport, excavators have allegedly been used regularly to carve through hills and rocks, while logging debris and road construction have obstructed the natural flow of streams.

Yet residents say the logging has continued almost uninterrupted since late 2024.

Inside the forest, we found two makeshift huts built beside the stream. One had enough space for nearly 10 workers. Chainsaws were stored inside. Solar panels powered water pumps drawing water from the stream through plastic pipes. Workers' clothes hung outside while cooking preparations continued nearby.

Md Ismail, who identified himself as a labour supervisor from Chakaria in Cox's Bazar, said he had been brought to the site three to four months earlier by a timber trader named Abu Ismail from Alikadam.

"We are people who survive on daily labour," he said. "Work is uncertain back home. We came here hoping for steady work."

According to him, seven to eight labourers were cutting trees for daily wages of Tk400–500.

"There are mostly lali trees and tula trees here," he said. "Among the valuable trees, only one bailam was found."

Ismail claimed the cutting had already stopped. "Now the logs are being transported — once, sometimes twice a day."

When the tree cutting began towards the end of 2024, we tried to stop them. Nothing happened. Earlier this year, we tried again. They claimed they had bought a garden from a Mro resident. But this is a protected Parabon forest.

Lairu Mro, resident, Pamiya Para

Another labourer, Shamsul Alam, also from Chakaria, said he had arrived 18 days earlier and was earning Tk450 a day for cooking and transporting timber.

However, the condition of the forest suggested otherwise. Freshly cut trunks, damp soil and still-green leaves indicated that logging had continued until very recently.

Residents say timber is regularly being transported through a bypass route known as Kolar Jiri to avoid the army checkpoint at 23 Kilo on the Alikadam–Thanchi road. They further allege that some timber is being moved across the country using forest department transit papers known as "jot permits", while other portions are sold as fuel to illegal brick kilns and tobacco furnaces in Alikadam. 

Century-old trees have been cut and trafficked, leaving entire hill slopes almost barren.

Century-old trees have been cut and trafficked, leaving entire hill slopes almost barren.

Abu Ismail, contacted by phone, denied involvement in cutting large trees. "I only bought wood for fuel," he claimed. "It was supposed to be leftover after jhum cultivation." He insisted a separate group from Thanchi was responsible for felling large trees and constructing roads through the hills. "I got involved by mistake. I will leave this business."

Lairu Mro, a resident of Pamiya Para, said logging continued even after journalists left the area. "Someone probably informed the workers after hearing journalists had arrived. After we left, more timber was hauled throughout the day — and because of fears of a raid, they even transported it at night."

"When the tree cutting began towards the end of 2024, we tried to stop them," Lairu said. "Nothing happened. Earlier this year we tried again. They claimed they had bought a garden from a Mro resident. But this is a protected Parabon forest."

A chainsaw photographed at the one of the makeshift huts where loggers rest.

Written complaints were submitted first to the Alikadam Army Zone and later to the upazila administration in January this year. "The army zone told us there would be a national election in a month and action would be taken afterwards," he said. "The UNO office advised us to seek assistance from the police and forest department. But the logging never stopped."

Eventually, residents began circulating photographs of the destruction on social media after failing to secure administrative intervention.

The environmental consequences are already being felt across surrounding villages. The Byangjhari stream — named after the frogs and tadpoles once abundant in its waters — serves as a critical water source for at least six villages, including Pamiya Para, Tungtui Para, Namsak Para, Khakoi Para, Quiring Para and Sankhla Para. It is drying up.

Menchong Mro of Pamiya Para said the stream once contained abundant water, fish and crabs. "Before the trees were cut, there was plenty of water. Now we no longer get water like before. We have tried several times to stop the logging. We could not."

Kamplat Mro, karbari of Adoi Para, said the crisis had become desperate. "Seven or eight villages depend on water from this stream."

Wildlife has also disappeared rapidly. 

Men Rao Mro of Namchak Para said that only two years ago the forest was filled with animals and birds. "There were wild boars, deer, jungle fowl and monkeys here. Last year, two bears were even seen in this area. If the forest is destroyed like this, none of these will survive." He estimated the Parabon forest had covered around 50 acres, though no formal survey exists.

Residents accused a local man named Longle Mro of selling parts of the Parabon forest. His name reportedly appeared in written complaints submitted to both the army zone and the local administration.

Trees being felled include garjan, champa flower trees, koroi, bailam, gutgutia, lali and chapalish — species once common across the dense forest.

Longle Mro admitted selling wood but denied authorising the cutting of large trees. "For several years, jhum cultivation was not going well," he said. "Because of financial need, I sold wood mainly as firewood. I did not agree to selling large trees."

The allegations have triggered growing criticism of the authorities. Joam Lian Amlai, president of the Bandarban chapter of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Forest and Land Rights Protection Movement,  blamed the forest department. "Such logging cannot happen without the involvement of the forest department — it is impossible otherwise."

Forest officials, however, cited administrative limitations and manpower shortages. Tain Range Officer Khandakar Ariful Islam said the forest department had no active operations in the area despite it falling within its administrative jurisdiction. "The jurisdiction covers 5,784 acres of forest land. But working so far away with limited manpower is extremely difficult. Still, in consultation with the UNO, we will try to prevent further damage. Legal action will be taken under forest laws, transit route laws or through mobile court operations."

Lama Forest Divisional Forest Officer Mostafizur Rahman said the matter had been brought to his attention and action would follow swiftly. "Orders have already been issued. A drive will begin very soon."

On 22 April morning, after media reports and complaints drew wider attention, the Alikadam upazila administration launched a day-long operation in the Dim Pahar area under the leadership of UNO Md Monjur Alam. Approximately 300 cubic feet of timber was seized, labour sheds inside the forest were destroyed, and an excavator used for hill cutting was rendered inoperable. No arrests were made as workers fled after learning of the operation.

UNO Alam said the excavator had been deliberately disabled. "It has been damaged in such a way that it cannot be operated again without spending Tk2.5 lakh–3 lakh. Its fuel tank was filled with soil and stones and its joints were broken apart with hammers."

He confirmed that regular cases would now be filed under the Forest Act. "Two sawmills have been identified — one belonging to a man named Faruk and another in Pan Bazar. Raids will be conducted there as well."

For now, the scars remain visible across the hills of Byangjhari: stripped slopes, buried streams and silent forests where wildlife once moved freely. The road carved through the hills stands as evidence of how an unprotected forest was dismantled piece by piece while the communities depending on it watched their water, biodiversity and future disappear.