30 roadside trees felled in Tentulia
Local people have submitted complaint with civil and police administration against the chairman of Banglabandha union parishad in Tentulia upazila under Panchagarh district for cutting down and selling 30 jackfruit and mahogany trees beside Gowalgoch-Uttar Kashipur road.
Acting Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ahmed Kabir, Tentulia Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Prioshindhu Talukdar and Tentulia police station Officer in Charge (OC) Mosabberul Haque received the complaint on Sunday.
The 30 trees would be worth about Tk 5 lakh, locals said.
After receiving the complaint, police seized some logs of the felled trees conducting drives at different places of Banglabandha union on Sunday, Tentulia OC Mosabberul Haque told this correspondent over cell phone.
"A few years ago, members of RDRS Federation and Banglabandha union parishad jointly planted the trees beside the road with 70 per cent and 30 percent shares respectively. We are examining the project papers submitted by the UP chairman," he said.
Asked about the matter, Banglabandha UP Chairman Kudrat-E-Khuda said over cell phone, "RDRS Federation members cut down the trees and I bought them for Tk 50,000. This is my fault."
On the other hand, Ramjan Ali, president of Banglabandha union RDRS Federation, said, "The UP chairman got the trees felled and sold by his own people. We are not involved with the tree cutting and selling."
Admitting of receiving the complaint of tree felling, UNO Prioshindhu Talukdar told this correspondent that Tentulia Forest Beat Officer Kamal Pasha is investigating the matter.
Acting DC Ahmedul Kabir said he ordered the officers concerned to take action after proper investigation in this regard.
Meanwhile, locals alleged that police is dilly-dallying to take any action against the UP chairman as he is upazila unit organising secretary of Awami League.
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