Investigative Reporter,
​MYMENSINGH: Grave allegations of corruption, abuse of power, and the illicit sale of government forest lands have surfaced against Deputy Ranger Ismail Hossain of the Uthura Range under the Mymensingh Forest Division. Despite facing an official transfer order to the Sylhet region, he has mysteriously managed to remain stationed in Mymensingh, where he allegedly continues an unchecked commerce of illegal encroachments.

​Deputy Ranger Ismail has long been associated with various irregularities, including timber smuggling and accepting bribes in exchange for granting unauthorized permissions to construct concrete structures on protected forest land.
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​Among corrupt officials within the forest department, Deputy Ranger Ismail Hossain ranks at the top. Ongoing investigations reveal staggering details of financial misconduct across the Uthura Range, Permitted to construct a concrete building approximately 100 yards ahead of Shaheed's More in the Angargara Beat (to the right of the Intergate road), in exchange for BDT 180,000 taken by Range Officer Ismail Hossain. A garment worker and his wife, granted permission to build a concrete structure near the house of Dhonu Neta, for which Range Officer Ismail Hossain allegedly took BDT 150,000. Allowed to construct a concrete building on a hillock in the Gazari orchard at Khalpara along the Intergate-to-Auliarchala route, costing BDT 150,000 in bribes to the Range Officer.
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A resident of Dhalpara, permitted to build an 8-room concrete structure after allegedly paying BDT 250,000 to Range Officer Ismail Hossain. Son of Mosharraf, hailing from the Muktijodhar More Gazari orchard Hijalapara area, granted building permission following a bribe of BDT 180,000. A rural medical practitioner residing near the dirt road in Aulia Barchala area, whose family allegedly paid BDT 350,000 in bribes for permission to construct a two-story concrete building. Permitted to construct a two-story concrete building at Kalibari More, for which Range Officer Ismail Hossain allegedly took a bribe of BDT 300,000. ​Furthermore, staff members have accused the Range Officer of selling seized Akashmani trees located within the office compound—under the pretext of covering "office expenses" following a visit by the Conservator of Forests, Central Region—and pocketing the proceeds himself.
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​At present, construction work for roughly 20 small and large buildings is actively underway within the Angargara Beat area. Range Officer Ismail Hossain has reportedly amassed around BDT 5 million in bribes from these unauthorized constructions. Even though he was officially transferred from the Mymensingh Forest Division to the Sylhet Forest Division, he remains in Mymensingh to sustain his illicit trade.
​Prior to this assignment, while on duty in Tangail, Deputy Ranger Ismail faced multiple complaints regarding abuse of power, unethical conduct, and an official filing with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). Notably, while stationed in the Tangail Forest Division, he was accused of entering into a physical relationship under the false promise of marriage, an incident that was subsequently suppressed. An official during that tenure lodged a formal complaint with the ACC regarding these irregularities and corruption, which remains under investigation.
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​When contacted multiple times via mobile phone to verify the allegations regarding the illegal land usage permissions, financial extortion, moral scandals, timber smuggling, and regular payoffs from various beats, Deputy Ranger Ismail disconnected the call on the pretext of being busy. Furthermore, shortly after the communication, a local individual identifying himself as journalist Jahangir Alam Shaheen contacted the reporter via phone, asking inquisitively, "Could you please tell me why you called Uthura Deputy Ranger Ismail?" ​To be continued... (Part-01)

​Note: Detailed revelations and further investigative findings will follow in the second part of this serial report.