Forest dept seizes 14 phones in Sundarbans raid

Acting on a tip-off, a patrol team led by Shelarchar Patrol Post Officer Forester Md. Mizanur Rahman discovered a makeshift elevated hut constructed from tree branches inside the Neelbaria forest area. Sensing the presence of forest guards, the occupants fled deeper into the mangrove forest.

Upon searching the abandoned structure, guards recovered 14 mobile phone handsets along with essential provisions including rice, lentils, cooking oil, onions, garlic, and salt. The forest patrol subsequently dismantled the illegal hideout.

Bagerhat Sundarban East Forest Division Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Md. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury confirmed that the seized items likely belonged to an unidentified group of forest bandits.

A search operation in the surrounding forest area yielded no arrests, and further vigilance has been stepped up across the range.