The interim government has revoked the allocation of 700 acres of forest land originally designated for the establishment of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Academy of Public Administration. 

The decision was taken following a request from Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan, urging the protection of the forest area. 

The land, located in Cox's Bazar, includes 400 acres of hill land and 300 acres of stream land, all of which fall under protected forest status.

This area has been designated as a protected forest under the Forest Act since 1935 and is home to diverse wildlife, including elephants, monkeys, and wild bears. 

Reforestation efforts were carried out to combat climate change, and the area has been under special protection since Jhilanja Union was declared an environmentally critical zone in 1999. 

The Forest Department had filed a case due to the omission of "protected forest" in the records, and a High Court writ petition resulted in a stay order on the land allocation, which was upheld by the Appellate Division.

The Ministry of Land instructed the Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner to take necessary action following this decision.

BDST: 1613 HRS, NOV 11, 2024
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