200 trees felled in Kalapara forest
At least 200 trees at Modhukhali forest in Mithaganj union under Kalapara upazila of the district have been cut down in the last eight to 10 days by a resident of the area.
Locals said the forest department planted many trees, including keora, gewa, and bain, on both sides of Modhukhali lake area around 50 to 60 years ago. The department plants some trees every year in the area, creating a forest, they added.
Abdul Haque, a resident of Modhukhali village, said the forest saves them from disasters like cyclone, storm and flood, adding that they will be exposed to such disasters during monsoon season as many large trees have been cut down.
Hasan Mahmud, a resident of the village, has felled at least 200 trees in the forest, telling the locals that he took permission from the forest department. However, Harun-ur-Rashid of the Mohipur Range Office of Patuakhali forest department said they did not give Hasan permission to cut down the trees.
Hasan said he bought the land from a local man named Moslem Ali Hawlader, but Moslem Ali's son Mostafa Hawlader said Hasan did not buy the land from his father.
"I have submitted an application to the forest department in Patuakhali for permission to cut down trees but does not know whether the permission has been issued or not," Hasan told this correspondent. Divisional Forest Officer Ajit Kumar Rudhro said they have not given permission to anybody to cut down trees.
Assistant Commissioner (land) Khondakar Robiul Islam said necessary steps will be taken after investigation against those involved in the matter.
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