Tree stealing unabated

The trees that were planted by Water Development Board (WDB) near the Teesta Barrage in Dalia upazila of the district are being stolen regularly, but the authorities concerned seem to be indifferent to it.  

The man-made forest on 33 acres of land at the eastern end of the barrage was created in 1993-1994 to hold the soil firmly around the barrage and protect it from erosion by the Teesta river.

Mahogany, shishu, teak, akashmoni, eucalyptus and other trees were planted there.

The forest is a part of the protection for the barrage along with usual river control measures like dams and groins. WDB, with support of the government's forest department, takes care of it.

In a recent visit, this correspondent saw that most of the big trees had been stolen.

Abdul Kashem, of Sadhur Bazar village close to the forest, said the thieves fell and remove trees at night. They tell the poor people to dig out the roots to use as fuel, thus wiping out evidence that there had been trees there.

Locals alleged that a section of WDB men and some members of the Ansars posted in nearby Doani camp are cooperating with the thieves.

Doani Ansar Camp Commander Jonayed Hossain said there was a tree-felling syndicate in the area one year ago, which is inactive now due to constant vigilance of his force. He said locals sometimes remove branches or parts of dead trees, but not live trees.

Sub-assistant engineer, also in charge of the forest, Tanvir Hossain admitted stealing of trees, adding that they even recovered logs of stolen trees from nearby sawmills and sued the thieves.

“Many big trees were sold in auctions several times and we will hold more auctions in future,” he added.

However, he did not specify the total number of trees sold in auctions, how many auctions took place so far and the total  amount WDB got by selling the trees.

 "I have joined here recently and do not know about those matters," he said.