Serious allegations have been made against Forestry officer Mongyu Marma of embezzling several million taka allocated under the Sustainable Forest and Livelihood Project (Sufal) being implemented in Sadar Bonbit and Tulatali Bonbit of Eidgarh Range under the Cox’s Bazar North Forest Division.

Multiple sources related to the project and local residents have alleged that he has been involved in embezzling government money and various types of administrative irregularities in the name of Sufal project for a long time.

Sources said that the five Forest Conservation Villages (FCVs) under the supervision of Mongyu Marma are Chagirakata, Baidyapara, Panisya Ghona, Baughata and Muhammad Sharif Para.

According to the project policy, each FCV is supposed to have one accountant (bookkeeper) and there is a provision for regular payment of salary.

But it is alleged that out of the five bookkeepers, only two or three have received partial salaries.

The rest of the money has been embezzled. There have been allegations of embezzlement of about 1 lakh 80 thousand taka in this sector alone.

Office rent withdrawn but not paid It is alleged that although money was withdrawn regularly in the name of office rent of five FCVs throughout 2024, no rent was paid to the concerned office owners.

Locals claim that the accused forest officer has personally consumed the withdrawn money. One of the most serious allegations is the non-payment of allowances to forest guards. None of the forest guards working under the five FCVs has received their due allowance.

It is known that about 4 lakh 50 thousand taka is due in this sector. This has led to intense dissatisfaction and anger among the forest guards.

Allegations of embezzlement of 10 to 15 lakh taka According to the sources concerned, a total of 10 to 15 lakh taka has been embezzled through various irregularities.

Locals allege that the FCVs under the supervision of the accused officer Mongyu Marma have become practically non-functional.

Although the project activities have been stopped, no effective initiative is being seen to supervise or revive them.

As a result, the main goal of the Sufal project—forest conservation and development of the livelihood of the local community—is being severely hampered.

Local residents and project stakeholders have demanded that legal action be taken against the accused forest BIT officer through an immediate impartial and transparent investigation.

When contacted for comment on this matter, BIT officer Mongyu Marma denied the allegations against him and said, “A local identified group is deliberately spreading propaganda against me.”

A senior forest department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “If a formal complaint is received in this regard, it will be investigated and necessary action will be taken.”