Tree felling goes on, this time in Lalmonirhat
Two workers saw a tree beside Lalmonirhat-Mongaolhat road at Durakuti village in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila as a group allegedly belonging to the ruling Awami League felled 50 large roadside trees from March 16 to 18. Inset, logs of felled trees being taken away for sale. Photo: STAR
A group of people allegedly belonging to the ruling Awami League (AL) felled 50 big roadside trees at Durakuti village in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila from March 16-18. Informed by locals, Lalmonirhat district council authorities prevented the group from felling any more trees beside Lalmonirhat-Mogholhat road on March 18 noon. However, no further action is yet to be taken against the 'identified gang'. The 50 felled trees include 20 mahogany, 21 shil korai and 9 nim trees at the village, locals said. Price of each of the felled mahogany trees would be Tk 30 to 40 thousand, each shil korai Tk 20 to 25 thousand and each nim around Tk 8 to 15 thousand, said local wood trader Monsur Ali. "When we asked the gang why they were felling roadside trees they showed false auction papers. We informed the district council authority of the matter immediately,” said Habibur Rahman, a villager. “They gave death threat when we urged the gang not to fell the trees on March 16,” said Nurul Islam, another villager. Seeking anonymity, a woodcutter at Durakuti village said a local AL man hired him and nine other labourers to fell the roadside trees, saying that he got auction order to fell roadside trees at Durakuti. Unus Ali, head assistant of Lalmonirhat district council, said the district council authority did not hold any auction to fell roadside trees in the village. "After getting information that an organised group felled some big and live roadside trees in Lalmonirhat-Mogholhat road I took steps to prevent the group from cutting down anymore trees on Sunday noon. I have informed the administrator of district council of the matter. He will take necessary step,” said Mohammad Shahjahan, chief executive officer of Lalmonirhat District Council. Contacted, district council Administrator Motiar Rahman, also district AL general secretary, said, "Some unscrupulous staffs of my office may be involved with the gang in felling some big and valuable roadside trees at Durakuti village beside Lalmonirhat-Mogholhat road in last few days." “A three-member probe team was formed to investigate the matter on last March 19. I will take necessary action regarding the matter after getting probe report by coming Monday,” he said.
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