Ctg resort owners accused of occupying reserved forest, private land

The owners of Mati-Ta, a resort located in Bhatiari, Chattogram, have been accused of encroaching upon reserved forest and private land, cutting hills, and felling trees to expand their property.

The Forest Department filed a case against the resort, alleging the illegal occupation of 40 decimals of reserved forest land and an ongoing clearing of mature trees.

Additionally, locals allege that the resort's owners seized privately owned land from area residents by political muscle. They claim to have lost about one acre of land to Mati-Ta's owners.

While the resort primarily covers about 20 acres of land belonging to the owners, locals allege that they gradually expanded its boundaries, encroaching on protected forestland and neighbouring properties.

The owners, however, denied all allegations and claimed that the issues were resolved.

The resort owners, Munal Mahbub and Tasnim Mahmud, are socially and politically influential. Munal is the daughter of prominent business leader and Awami League affiliate Mahbubul Alam.

Mahbubul Alam served multiple terms as president of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and later the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) until his resignation in September 2024.

This influence, locals say, shielded the resort from scrutiny and accountability.

Locals report that after occupying the land, the Munal-Tasnim couple harassed the victims with lawsuits and used the local police administration to intimidate. 

Residents further claim that a large number of trees were felled during the resort's construction, significantly impacting the local ecosystem.

Furthermore, they allege that the resort authorities have blocked traditional forest paths, depriving over 100 residents of their livelihoods derived from forest resources.

Forest Department case

On 29 June 2021, the Chattogram North Forest Division filed a case in the Chattogram Forest Court against the Mati-Ta owners for occupying 40 decimals of protected forest land and clearing it by cutting down 25 mature trees.

Assistant Forest Officer Shafiul Karim Majumdar, who is handling the case, told TBS that the charges have been accepted by the Sixth Court of Chattogram Chief Judicial Magistrate. The court also rejected the accused's application seeking exemption from the charges.

He further added that the accused, Tasnim Mahmud, had filed a separate application for a temporary injunction, which was also dismissed by the First Joint District Judge's Court on 15 January.

According to the Forest Department, the hill next to Mati-Ta is the southern part of the Sonaichhari reserved forest under the Chattogram North Forest Division's Kumira Forest Range. In the 2011-12 fiscal year, the Forest Department planted saplings of various species of trees on this land.

Allegations of land grabbing

In addition to taking over reserved forest land, locals have also accused the resort owners of forcefully occupying their land.

Saber Shah Emon leased an acre of land, at the foothills of the Sonaichhari south forest area, for mango and dragon fruit cultivation in 2016.

He claimed that the resort's authorities uprooted his trees with excavators and fenced off six decimals of his land in 2019. "When I tried to stop them, I was threatened with lawsuits by the police," he said.

Another landowner, Naim Shah Imran, having boundary dispute with the resort told TBS, "Any objections regarding the boundary could have been resolved by appropriate surveys but they forcibly occupied our land. When we protested, they harassed us with lawsuits."

He further added, "Beside us, the resort owners have occupied the land of 4-5 other people around the resort. The Munal-Tasnim couple have continued this illegal occupation by using the influence of Mahbubul Alam and using the local administration and police in their acts.

Another victim, a UK expatriate, Kader Chowdhury, said the resort authorities seized almost half of his 96-decimal plot in 2021.

"I contacted the police and the local union parishad chairman but didn't get any help. Rather, they advised me not to cause any trouble. The police did not take my complaint. A few days later, I heard that the resort owners had filed separate cases against us in court and at the police station," he told TBS.

Sitakunda's Assistant Commissioner of Land Abdullah Al Mamun confirmed that the Forest Department had filed a case regarding protected forest land. However, he said no complaints of private land grabbing had been received.  

"We will take action if any complaints are filed," he added.

Overview of Mati-Ta

Nestled in the southern part of the Sonaichhari Reserved Forest, Mati-Ta resort stands as a sprawling establishment with facilities for over 300 guests and various adventure activities.

Locals claim its construction, which began in 2019, drastically altered the landscape.

Before the resort's establishment, the area was covered with dense forest and a narrow dirt road led to the forest. Now, a swimming pool, artificial lake, and other structures have replaced the natural greenery.

While the northern hills adjacent to the resort are densely forested, the southern slopes, where the resort is situated, show clear signs of deforestation.

Although promoted as an eco-friendly retreat offering adventure activities and events, the resort's development has drawn sharp criticism for its environmental impact.

Adverse impact on biodiversity

Once home to fishing cats, deer, and monkeys, the area has seen a stark decline in wildlife activity since the resort's construction.

Environmentalists and forest experts warn that resort development threatens forest ecosystems and biodiversity. Such encroachment disrupts food chains and endangers numerous plant and animal species.

Senior forest researcher and former Chattogram University professor Dr Kamal Hossain warned against allowing resorts near forests, noting their detrimental effects on biodiversity and ecosystems.

"No matter how environmentally friendly the resort is built, it will cause some damage to the forest," he said.  

Kamal highlighted the risks of human intrusion in forests, including threats to plants, animals, and ecosystems. "Seeing one resort, others may also want to build, leading to further destruction of the forest," he said.  

Socheton Nagorik Committee (Conscious Citizens Committee) Chattogram chapter president Advocate Akhtar Kabir Chowdhury said, "At the time when Mati-Ta resort was built, influential people used the law as they pleased."

He said, "According to the Environment Conservation Act, there is no opportunity to cut any hill except for matters of extreme national interest. There is no scope of dredging or raising even a privately owned hill without the permission of the Department of Environment."

This lawyer demanded that all those involved in the construction and approval of the resort be brought to justice.

Environmental organisation Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA)'s Chattogram Divisional Coordinator Monira Parvin Ruba criticised the resort's construction, stating, "There was no scope of constructing Mati-Ta by cutting hills and felling trees and occupying reserved forest land, under existing laws."

She demanded that all those involved in the resort's construction and granting its environmental clearance be brought to justice. She also called for the resort's eviction to deter others from building such establishments at the cost of the environment.

Mati-Ta authorities deny allegations

When contacted, Mati-Ta Director Tasnim Mahmud denied all allegations, claiming the contested land belonged to Nurjahan Group and that he had secured a court ruling in his favour over a boundary dispute.

Regarding allegations of tree felling, he said, "[Forest Department] mentioned in the complaint that they learned from some intelligence branch that I had given the order to cut down trees. They filed the case two months later."

Tasnim also dismissed accusations of harassment, stating that the cases against him were baseless and politically motivated. Besides, he claimed that no trees or hills were cut to build the resort.

"Our land is located at the border of Khademora and Jangal Sonaichhari mouzas (administrative areas). There is a discrepancy of about 30 feet in the RS and BS surveys. I have filed a case in court seeking amendment of the BS record, and the verdict has also come in my favour. That is why I have taken possession of the lands," he said.

However, TBS's investigation revealed that he took possession of the lands even before and after filing the case, and before the court gave any verdict in the case.

Munal Mahbub admitted the ownership of the resort but declined to comment.

Several attempts to contact former FBCCI president Mahbubul Alam via his mobile number and WhatsApp were unsuccessful.