Ruling party man loots roadside trees in Lalmonirhat Sadar
Workers hired by a local Sramik League leader cut living trees beside Lalmonirhat-Mogholhat road at Durakuti village in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila yesterday. Fifty roadside trees fell victim to such callousness during the last four days as the pro-ruling party man, entitled to cut 20 dead trees following an auction, also sawed off and took away the living trees in the absence of proper supervision by the authorities concerned. Photo: STAR
At least 50 roadside trees were felled allegedly by a Sramik League leader at Durakuti village in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila in the last three days since Friday. Lalmonirhat Zila Parishad (district council) recently sold 20 dead trees along Lalmonirhat-Mogholhat Road and Lalmonirhat-Bhelabari Road to Abu Bakkar Siddique, 40, general secretary of Mogholhat union Sramik League, as he was the highest bidder. Bakkar was given work order on condition that he would fell the trees in presence of a representative from the district council. Accordingly, the Sramik League leader engaged 15 labourers to fell the roadside trees on Thursday in presence of a class four employee of the district council. Locals alleged that the labourers on the instruction of the Sramik League leader felled at least 50 living trees along the roads in the last three days as no representative from the district council was present. Of the felled trees, 35 were mahogany and the rest were jackfruit and neem trees, local said, adding that they did dare challenge the Sramik League leader, fearing harassment. Azibor Rahman, 50, of Durakuti village said though the Sramik League leader felled the living trees along with the dead ones, violating the condition in the work order, the district council turned a blind eye to his illegal act. Mobarak Hossain of the same village alleged that Sramik League leader Abu Bakkor chopped many roadside trees in the last three years, showing false auction orders. Local people filed allegations with the authorities concerned several times, but to no effect, he added. Locals alleged that they were earlier harassed by the ruling party men as they put signatures on the written allegations against the Sramik League leader. “We keep mum about felling of the 50 living trees, fearing harassment by Abu Bakkar and his men,” they said. Hasem Ali, one of the 15 labourers, said they felled the roadside trees, which were marked by the Sramik League leader. “We have just carried out his order,” he added. Contacted, Sramik League leader Abu Bakkar Siddique said he got work order from the district council to fell 20 roadside dead trees. “My workers felled the dead trees in presence of a representative of the district council. They didn't fell any living trees along the two roads, he claimed. Zila Parishad Administrator advocate Motiar Rahman, also the general secretary of Awami League district unit, said Abu Bakkar felled only the dead trees in presence of our representative. If the allegation against Abu Bakkar is found to be true, necessary action will be taken against him as per law, he added.
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