Court order fails to refrain them from felling trees
The trees, felled by a group of local Awami League men violating court injunction, lie on the premises of Rudreshwar Government Primary School in Kakina Union of Kaliganj upazila under Lalmonirhat district.Photo: STAR
A group of local Awami League (AL) men felled 14 valuable trees on the premises of Rudreshwar Government Primary School in Kakina union of Kaliganj upazila under the district, in violation of a court order. Earlier on several occasions, teachers, students and managing committee members of the school and locals jointly foiled the attempt to fell the trees by the group allegedly led by Kakina union parishad Chairman Hafiz Uddin. Demanding steps to save the trees, they also formed a human chain on the school premises a week ago. "As some ruling party men led by Kakina UP Chairman Hafiz Uddin, also central committee member of Swechchhasebok League, tried to fell the trees in the name of constructing a link road, I filed a petition with the court that issued a permanent injunction against felling of the trees on school premises. To this effect, an official from the court hung a notice in the area on May 22 last," said school managing committee Chairman Mozaffar Hossain. “But the gang felled four mango trees, five jackfruit trees and five mahogany trees on the school premises today [Saturday] morning. Most of these were planted about 20 years ago. The valuable trees also added to the beauty of the school," he said. Local villager Selim Uddin, 55, said, "Teachers and students of the school as well as the neighbouring people got fruits from the trees on the school premise during the last seven years but some AL men felled these trees in the name of constructing a link road. There is enough khas land beside the school premises and road could be constructed there,” Confirming that 14 trees on the school premise were felled yesterday morning, Headmaster of Rudreshwar Government Primary School Archona Rani said, "The honourable court had issued permanent injunction on tree felling on the school premises. And so, the court will take necessary action against the tree fellers." Contacted, Kaliganj Upazlia LGED Engineer Parvez Newaz Khan said, "My office has given work order to construct a link road on khas lands at Rudreshwar village, not on school land.” Contacted, Kakina UP Chairman Hafiz Uddin and his aide Aminur Rahman, member of local union parishad committee of AL, declined to make any comment on the matter, saying that they will submit their statement if any authority concerned enquire them about felling of the trees on the school premises. Contacted, Kaliganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Amirul Islam said, "I am unaware about the tree felling incident. As there was a permanent injunction on felling of these trees, the court will take action regarding the matter."
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