Criminals set fire to green belt trees
Unidentified criminals set fire to over 200 trees at Char Miazan in Baufal upazila of Patuakhali on Saturday night. The trees were planted under Upakuliya Sabuj Bestoni (coastal green belt) Project two years ago to reduce severity of the effects of natural disasters in the coastal area. Photo: Star
Unidentified criminals set fire to over 200 trees at Char Miazan in Chandradwip union under Baufal uapzila of the district on Saturday night.
Several thousand trees were planted under Upakuliya Sabuj Bestoni (coastal green belt) Project over the last two years to reduce severity of the effects of natural disasters in the coastal area.
While visiting the spot on Sunday, Dulal Mridaha, a resident of Char Miazan told this correspondent that the criminals set the trees (10 to 15 feet in height) ablaze at around 7:00pm.
“We doused the flame after three hours of frantic efforts and informed the upazila administration of the incident,” he said. Locals demanded immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of the persons involved in such heinous act.
However, he could not tell the exact reason behind burning down the trees.
Being informed, Baufal upazila officials visited the spot on Sunday. They talked to the local people and assured them of taking necessary actions against the culprits.
Despite several attempts, the correspondent could not contact acting upazila forest officer Md Chand Mia as his cellphone remained switched off.
Contacted, Baufal Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) ABM Sadiqur Rahman, also the chairman of upazila environment and forest development committee, said they will investigate the matter soon and take legal action against the culprits.
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