Rights activities have demanded immediate legal action to recover 6.73 acres of forest land in Gazipur occupied by former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed.

Under the banner of Bhawalgarh Bachao Andolan, people formed a human chain in front of the deputy commissioner's (DC) office in Gazipur on Wednesday.

Bhawal Resort illegally encroached upon 6.73 acres of forest land, allegedly with assistance from Benazir, to develop 160 bighas of land in Naljani village, Bhawalgarh union, Gazipur Sadar upazila.

The organisation’s office secretary Mohammad Zakaria said that Bhawalgarh Bachao Andolan has been advocating for protecting green spaces since 2000.

This organisation demanded immediate action to reclaim the forest land from the possession of Benazir Ahmed and others who have encroached upon the land belonging to the forest department.

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed has been implicated in the acquisition of forest department land to obtain a one-fourth equity share in a luxury resort in Gazipur owned by an industrial conglomerate.

BDST: 1936 HRS, April 03, 2024