Dhaka, Thursday, 4 December 2025: A decision has been taken to withdraw 88 forest cases filed against ethnic minorities and locals in the Madhupur range under Tangail Forest Division. In addition, the remaining 48 cases out of the total 136 will be withdrawn next year on certain conditions.
This decision was finalized today at an inter-ministerial meeting held at the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, chaired by Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to the Ministry. The meeting reviewed all forest cases filed against a total of 503 individuals, including both ethnic minorities and locals living in the Madhupur forest area.
The meeting further decided to establish four-member committees in each of the 10 forest beats under four forest ranges in Madhupur. Each committee will be led by the respective Beat Officer and will consist of two members from ethnic minorities and two members from local co-management committees. These committees will work to reduce forest-related offenses and facilitate dispute resolution.
In addition, the Forest Department has been instructed to ensure grazing rights, access to water, and the right to use land for ethnic minorities living in the Madhupur forest area.
Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr. Farhina Ahmed, Additional Secretary (Environment) Dr. Fahmida Khanom, Chief Conservator of Forests Md. Amir Hossain Chowdhury, representatives from the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Ministry of Land, Forest Department, and the President of Joyenshahi Adivasi Development Council, Madhupur were present at the meeting.
It may be mentioned that the decision to withdraw these cases was made in line with the recommendations submitted by an eight-member committee chaired by the Additional Secretary (Development) of the Ministry. Among the 136 cases, 315 accused belong to ethnic minorities and 188 are local residents, totaling 503 accused individuals.