Rajshahi, Aug 27 (V7N) - In Konoparagram, Goyalkandi Union, Bagmara Upazila, Rajshahi, it is alleged that local Awami League leaders have illegally cut down and sold mango trees worth around Tk 5 million from a private orchard. Seventy century-old trees were felled in broad daylight under the threat of violence.
 
Despite filing a police report, the destruction continued, and the complainant faced threats from the Awami League figures. The perpetrators also tried to take over the land using fake documents. Following the collapse of the authoritarian Hasina government on August 5, these leaders and their armed accomplices fled the area.
 
Enayetul Haque, residing in Dhaka, owns 585 decimal of land across several plots in Goyalkandi and Konopara Mouzas. As he lives far away, he depends on his caretaker, Fazlur Rahman, to manage the property.
 
Akkas Ali, a notorious local figure, and his gang began cutting down trees in Haque's orchard near Konopara School. When Rahman tried to stop them, he was threatened and driven away. Akkas Ali and his associates felled and sold seventy of Haque's mango trees, valued at about Tk 5 million, and tried to seize a pond on the property. The orchard is now nearly barren due to their actions.
 
Akkas Ali, who is a schoolteacher in Konopara but known for his fraudulent and violent behavior, and his accomplices, including Bipul, Yaar Ali, Rezaul Islam, Salam Prang, Sahel, Jiya, and Khalil, are infamous for land grabbing and tree cutting. They acted with impunity during the Awami League’s rule.
 
Since the downfall of the Awami League government, Akkas Ali and his gang have gone into hiding. Despite a case being filed with Bagmara Police, where two suspects were arrested, the tree cutting has not ceased. Other parties are also attempting to seize Haque’s land, and Shakil Alam, Haque’s son-in-law, reports receiving threats.
 
Shakil Alam stated, "Our caretaker informed us that Akkas Ali was forcibly cutting down our mango trees. I reported this to the police, but the cutting has continued. Attempts to seize the land are ongoing, and I am receiving threatening calls."
 
Bagmara Police Officer-in-Charge (OC) Arbind Sarker commented, "Though Akkas Ali is a teacher, he is a well-known fraudster involved in land grabbing and illegal tree cutting. After the case was filed, we arrested two suspects, but the others are still missing and have not been located."
 
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