UP chairman sells roadside trees illegally
A union parishad chairman in Gobindaganj upazila has allegedly sold 872 roadside trees to a timber trader without permission from the authorities concerned.
According to an allegation, Shariful Islam, chairman of Darbastha union parishad (UP), recently sold the immature mango, jackfruit, eucalyptus, neem, and mahogany trees, planted along Kalitola-Haritola road in 1995 under the aforestation programme, jointly sponsored by LGED and Care.
Timber trader Sajadur Rahman of Nakaihat in the upazila bought the trees worth Tk 80 lakh at a throwaway price of Tk seven lakh.
When local people reacted sharply to the incident, UNO MA Wahed asked the chairman to stop felling the trees and formed a four-member probe committee.
Punitive measures will be taken against those responsible for the offence after the investigation, said MA wahed.
Refuting the allegation, the chairman said he sold the trees as per the government rule.
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