It has been decided to withdraw 88 forest cases filed against small ethnic groups and local Bengalis in the Madhupur region of Tangail Forest Division. In addition, the remaining 48 cases out of a total of 136 cases will also be conditionally withdrawn after one year.
This decision was taken at an inter-ministerial meeting held on Thursday (December 4, 2025) in the meeting room of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change under the chairmanship of Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry. This decision was taken after reviewing the cases filed against a total of 503 people, including small ethnic groups and local Bengalis, in the Madhupur forest under the Tangail Forest Division.
It was also decided in the meeting that a four-member committee will be formed under the leadership of the bit officer in 10 forest bits of four ranges of Madhupur forest. These committees will have two members from small ethnic groups and two members from local co-management committees. The committees will play an effective role in reducing forest crimes and resolving disputes.
In addition, the Forest Department has been directed to ensure the rights of small ethnic groups to use cattle grazing, water and land.
The meeting was attended by Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr. Farhina Ahmed, Additional Secretary (Environment) Dr. Fahmida Khanam, Chief Conservator of Forests Md. Amir Hossain Chowdhury, representatives of the Ministry of Law, Land and Forest Department and the President of the Joyenshahi Adivasi Unnayan Parishad of Madhupur.
The decision to withdraw the cases was taken on the recommendation of an 8-member committee formed with the Additional Secretary (Development) of the Ministry as the convener. In a total of 136 cases, 315 accused are from small ethnic groups and 188 are local Bengali accused, which is a total of 503 people.
