Lawachhara trees won't be felled

The railway authorities have withdrawn its proposal to cut down 25,000 trees along the Dhaka-Sylhet railway tracks in Lawachhara National Park in Moulvibazar.

The railway ministry yesterday held a meeting with the forest department and took the decision for the protection of the biodiversity and environment of the forest in Kamalganj upazila.

However, a three-member committee, including members from the local railway and forest departments and the upazila nirbahi officer, would be formed to identify the trees posing risks to railway passengers, said Arman Hossain, divisional engineer-II of Bangladesh Railway.

Only those trees would be cut down, he added.

Some other issues were also discussed at yesterday's meeting held at the railway ministry.

In recent times, several organisations, working for wildlife management and nature conservation, formed human chains, held press briefings and organised signature campaigns against the proposal to cut down the trees.

On April 9, a letter signed by Arman Hossain, was sent to Kamalganj Forest Range office, asking the forest department to cut down trees along the rail tracks of Srimongal-Bhanugachh section's 5km area, according to railway sources.

 The letter said rail communications during summer becomes risky as trees uprooted in storms sometimes fall on the railway tracks which could lead to fatal accidents.

The Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Department, however, protested the move.

Some local organisations, including environmentalists, also raised their voice and took initiatives to mobilise support in this regard, said Abdul Karim Kim, general secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa), Sylhet chapter.

Jabed Bhuiyan, joint convener of Lawachhara Bon O Jibo Boichitro Rokha Andolon, yesterday, said, “We thank the government for not cutting the trees.”

Meanwhile, Sharif Jamil, joint secretary of Bapa, said the railway tracks should be removed from the forest for its conservation.