Jubo League men fell roadside trees
Protest by locals goes unheeded
Workers hired by Jubo League men fell a tree beside Aditmari-Mohishkhocha road in Aditmari upazila of Lalmonirhat district on Friday. Nine other trees also fell prey to such callous act on Thursday and Friday.Photo: STAR
Jubo League men felled ten roadside trees in Aditmari upazila of the district on Thursday and Friday despite strong protest by locals. District council yesterday filed a case with Aditmari Police Station, accusing Jubo League upazila unit President Azizul Islam Chanu and Organising Secretary Asadunnabi Hira of illegal felling of trees along Aditmari-Mohishkhocha Road, police said. Being informed by locals on Thursday afternoon, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Rezaul Alam Sarker went to the spot and seized two felled trees. He asked the labourers not to cut down anymore trees and left the spot. But Jubo League leaders took away the seized trees on Thursday night and felled eight more trees on Friday, ignoring UNO's order. The felled trees include mahogany, jackfruit and neem. Locals said as they tried to prevent the labourers from cutting down the trees, the Jubo League leaders told them that the district council had sold the trees to them at an auction. Local people said they again brought the matter to Aditmari UNO on Friday, but he did not take any further step in this regard, saying that he was under political pressure. “I have informed the administrator of the district council about felling of the roadside trees by a group of local musclemen without any documents,” the UNO said, adding that the administrator will take necessary action against the offenders. Aditmari Upazila Jubo League President Azizul Islam Chanu told this correspondent that the district council recently sold 23 threes to them through an auction. “We felled only eight of the 23 auctioned trees,” he added. Yunus Ali, head assistant of Lalmonithat district council, said no auction was held and no office order was issued to cut down the trees. The presence of a district council official is a must during felling of any auctioned tree, Yunus added. Contacted, District Council Administrator advocate Motiar Rahman said they have lodged a case with Aditmari Police Station, accusing two people of felling roadside trees. “I have sent a letter to Aditmari OC, asking him to seize the felled trees and arrest the persons involved,” the district administrator said.
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