A protest rally was held in Chunarughat, Habiganj, demanding the withdrawal of Deputy Ranger Syed Ashik Ahmed, the acting officer of the Habiganj Forest Department’s special team. The rally took place at noon on Monday at the South Bus Stand, organized by the Chunarughat Timber Traders Welfare Association.
Speakers at the rally accused Syed Ashik Ahmed of harassing timber traders through extortion, false cases, and intimidation. One trader alleged that a disabled man named Shanu Mia was falsely implicated in a case following the seizure of a tractor on March 5 in Bagiyargaon, Gazipur Union, and that the tractor and driver were released after a payment of 25,000 taka. The protesters claimed that traders who refused to pay regular bribes faced threats and obstacles to their business operations.
The rally was presided over by association president Abul Hossain Mahalder and conducted by Mir Saheb Ali of Jamaat-e-Islami. Several local political leaders attended and demanded that the deputy ranger be withdrawn within 48 hours, warning of a larger movement if the demand was not met.