The news of illegally occupying government forest land and building resorts, garden houses and holiday centers is not new in the country. The influentials have been illegally occupying various forest lands through various strategies through political patronage, muscle power and huge money for ages. Obaidul Karim, owner of the controversial industrial group Orion, has illegally occupied at least 100 acres of land in the reserve forest in Bhaluka, Mymensingh and has built various establishments there, including an Orion refrigerator manufacturing factory and personal bungalows.

Not only Obaidul Karim, his brothers Beacon Group owner and former MP Ebadul Karim and Ridisha Group owner Rezaul Karim have also occupied another 100 acres of land in the same forest. According to the Forest Conservation Act, anyone is completely prohibited from entering the reserve forest without permission. Forest guards have the power to shoot anyone who tries to enter without permission. However, not only locals, but also forest officers or forest workers cannot enter the illegally occupied land of Orion. No one dared to protest due to fear of the armed security guards employed by Obaidul Karim and his brothers. However, forest department officials have filed six to seven cases against Obaidul Karim and his brothers at different times, which are pending in various courts. Obaidul Karim and his brothers have been able to stop the proceedings of the cases for years due to the influence of the high-ranking officials of the previous government. As a result, they are still alive despite illegally occupying billions of taka of state assets.

The Orion empire has been built on at least 100 acres of land opposite the Forest Range Office (Seedstore Bazar) in Bhaluka Upazila of Mymensingh. Orion owner Obaidul Karim started the process of encroaching on the forest by buying a few bighas of land next to the forest in 2016. Obaidul Karim took control of 102 acres of forest land little by little. He did not leave the reserved forest area. Among them, Orion's refrigerator manufacturing factory has been set up on 154 dag of land in Habirbari bit in Bhaluka Reserve Forest. Obaidul Karim's brother, Ebadul Karim, owner of Beacon Group, has occupied 154 and 185 dags of the same bit and 107 dags of land in Kathali bit. Another brother of theirs, Rezaul Karim, owner of Ridisha Group, has also occupied 185 and 107 dags of land in Habirbari bit. Out of these dags, the total area of forest land in 154 dags is 201 acres, which Obaidul Karim and Ebadul Karim have illegally occupied. It is alleged that when the Awami League-led government came to power in 2009, Obaidul Karim and Ebadul Karim started trying to encroach on the land of the Bhaluka Forest Division. By 2016, that attempt was somewhat successful. They occupied the lands, which are more valuable than gold, located along the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway, without much hindrance. The Forest Department has only filed a case and has been held accountable. Locals said that Obaidul Karim and the other two brothers were able to illegally occupy the lands by using their power, sometimes by using lathi-charge, and sometimes by lining the pockets of dishonest officials of the Forest Department. In this regard Bhaluka Range Forest Officer (RFO) Harunur Rashid told a media, "The total forest land in Bhaluka Range is 13,000 acres. Of this, 8,000 acres have been encroached upon. In addition to Orion, Beacon, Ridisha and some influential individuals and organizations have illegally occupied these lands. 

Interim government adviser Mahfuz Alam said that India should understand Bangladesh's new reality and unequivocally recognize the July Uprising and the democratic struggle of the students and the masses in Bangladesh.

The adviser said this in his verified Facebook post at 5:54 am on Wednesday (December 4).

In this post written in English, titled 'Relations with India and Bangladesh', he said, 'India should change the post-'75 playbook and understand Bangladesh's new reality. This is not the post-'75 situation.'

Mahfuz Alam said that the July Revolution was a democratic, generational and responsible struggle. And this struggle will continue for a long time....

The Bangladeshi people are not what they were before, 'They are now united and dignified. They will fight for their dignity until they die.’

He said, ‘In this part of Bengal, the pro-India or Indian allies think that the situation will calm down and that if they ignore the July Revolution and the atrocities of the fascists, nothing will happen to them. This is a wrong idea. People are watching everything!’

The Indian organization has tried to portray the July Revolution as a seizure of power by some militants, anti-Hindu, and Islamists, he said, ‘But their propaganda and incitement are failing.’

Adviser Mahfuz Alam said, ‘Delhi or Dhaka? Dhaka, Dhaka!’ and ‘Homeland or martyrdom!’ – These slogans are echoing in every corner of this country to unite Bangladesh into a single entity.

He sounded a warning, saying, ‘And India should not make this united, dignified and democratic Bangladesh its enemy.’

Noting that after almost two long decades, the people of Bangladesh are enjoying their democratic rights without hindrance, he said, ‘Truth has come... Lies will be destroyed. Forever!’

The adviser expressed his strong conviction and said, ‘We failed as a state after 1971, but not this time.’

‘In Allah, trust!’ He ended the post.

Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus will meet political parties today to create national unity on various ongoing issues.

Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam gave this information at a press conference at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital on Tuesday (December 3).

He said that the Chief Adviser (Tuesday) held a meeting with student leaders for national unity. He will hold a dialogue with leaders of major political parties on Wednesday. Apart from this, he will also hold a dialogue with religious leaders on Thursday.

The meeting will be held at the State Guest House Jamuna.

At the call of the anti-discrimination student movement, a pre-scheduled meeting between anti-fascist and mass uprising student organizations will be held on Wednesday (December 4). This is the second time that a meeting is being held with student organizations in this regard.

Convener of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement Hasnat Abdullah and Member Secretary Arif Sohel gave this information in a message at midnight on Tuesday (December 3).

The message stated that the anti-fascist student organizations will hold a view-exchange meeting at Bangla Motor, Rupayan Tower at 6 pm as a series of discussions after observing the 'National Student Solidarity Week' at the call of the anti-discrimination student movement. The message also mentioned that the anti-discrimination student movement is determined to resolve the national crisis with the consensus of all student organizations.

An emergency meeting was held with all student organizations organized by the anti-discrimination student movement on the night of November 25. In that meeting, it was announced to observe a week-long 'National Student Solidarity Week' by all anti-fascist student organizations to prevent the rehabilitation of Awami fascism and resolve the ongoing unrest in educational institutions.