Forest officer dies while trying to apprehend bandits at Ukhiya

A forest officer has been killed after he was run over by a dumper truck used by bandits to steal soil from the hills of a forest reserve in Cox’s Bazar’s Ukhiya.

The deceased was known as Sazzaduzzaman, 30, son of Mohammad Shahjahan, hailed from Gazaria upazila of Munshiganj.

Forest department and local sources said on information that a group was cutting hills in Harinmara area early Sunday, the official went to the spot riding a motorcycle. Meanwhile, the dumper truck ran over him and fled the scene, leaving him dead on the spot.

Ukhiya Range official Gazi Shafiul Alam said police recovered the body and sent to Cox’s Bazar Sadar hospital for autopsy.

Md Shamim Hossain, officer-in-charge of Ukhiya police station confirmed the matter.

Md Sarwar Alam, the divisional forest officer of the Cox’s Bazar South Forest Department visited the spot.