Tree felling move sparks protest
Move for constructing a road by felling around 15000 trees at Char Kukri-Mukri in Char Fashion upazila of Bhola has created resentment among the people of the district.
Locals observed that the decision to cut down such a large number of trees may endanger lives and properties of more than 20 lakh people of this coastal district during natural disaster.
They have decided to send a letter to the prime minister for saving the trees. Felling of trees will also disrupt the ecological balance of the coastal area, said local elite.
Fazlul Kader Majnu Molla, Bhola district AL secretary and Sadar upazila chairman said, as all their efforts to save the trees have failed they will now try to draw the attention of the prime minister in this regard.
Felling of these trees to save few minutes of journey time may benefit some of the influential people but not the mass people, said Mobasserullah Chowdhury, president of Bhola Sushil Samaj and an environment activist. He urged the authorities to find an alternative to felling the trees.
Local sources said preparations are already at final stage for cutting down about 15,000 trees which were planted under Green Belt Afforestation Programme in coastal area of the district.
Locals said there is an alternative way to construct a road on the western side of the area without felling the trees.
Contacted, Range Officer of Char Fashion forest range said that for the construction of the road around 2000 timber plants and 13000 immature other plants are likely to be felled. Value of the trees would be several crores of taka, he added.
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