, Jan. 7 -- The government has promulgated 'Forest and Tree Conservation Ordinance, 2026' to strengthen forest conservation.

A gazette notification was issued in this regard by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Law Ministry on Tuesday.

The ordinance provides clear rules on surveying and recording forest land, obtaining permission for tree cutting, penalties, and conditional exchange of forest land.

Cutting prohibited trees can result in fines up to Tk 1 lakh and compulsory reforestation; cutting permission-required trees without approval can incur up to Tk 50,000; and damaging trees otherwise can attract up to Tk 20,000, it said.

As per the ordinance, cutting or removing trees in unclassified state forests, soc...