2,500 trees illegally axed, sold by ex-UP chairman

Stumps bear testimony to the felling of a large number of trees beside a canal on khas land at Nimaikhari village in Dinajpur Sadar upazila during the last one week. PHOTO: STAR

Around 2,500 trees on both sides of a canal in Askerpur union of Dinajpur Sadar upazila have been felled and sold off in a week.    

People of Nimaikhari village in the union filed a complaint with the assistant commissioner of land (AC land) on Thursday, stating that Mosharraf Hossain, former chairman of Askerpur Union Parishad (UP), illegally felled and sold off the trees.

The villagers claimed that they planted the trees on both sides of the canal 12 years ago. Former UP chairman Mosharraf Hossain felled the trees and sold them for Tk10 lakh, they alleged.

They demanded proper investigation into the matter and legal action against the ex-UP chairman. The felled trees include fruit-bearing ones, eucalyptus and acacia.

Md Ehtesham Reza, assistant commissioner of land of Sadar upazila, said legal action will be taken against the person responsible for felling the trees after proper investigation.

Contacted, Mosharraf Hossain said he leased the land from the authorities concerned 15 years ago and planted the trees there.