Illegal tree felling in Kuakata

Local timber traders have felled around 100 large trees on the dyke at Dakkhin Musulliabad village in the last one month, but they could not take those away as the villagers stopped them saying that they (villagers) were the owners of the trees.

Water Development Board (WDB) built the dyke along the Bay in Kuakata area in the 1980s. Local people planted some trees on the dyke at their own initiative to protect the dyke. The forest department planted about 10,000 trees on the dyke under social afforestation project in 2013-14 fiscal year.

The forest department took steps to sell the trees as WDB took up a plan to renovate the dyke. The department marked some trees about two years back and sold those in an auction in April this year.

In the last one month, the timber traders who bought the trees have felled around 100 trees that were planted by the local people, who stopped them from taking those away, saying that they (villagers) are the real owners of the trees and the forest department sold those illegally.

Afjal Hossain of Dakkhin Musulliabad village said the forest department sold the trees illegally in an auction which were not planted by the department.

“Our grandfathers or fathers planted the trees from around 40 years back,” he said, adding that the villagers are the real owners of these trees and they will take the trees or the money from the sale of the trees.

Abu Saleh, another resident of the same area, said they looked after the trees after planting those, but the forest department is selling them, depriving them of financial benefit.

They will not allow the traders to take the trees without paying the market price, which is around Tk 15, 000 per tree, he said.

Abdul Aziz, former member of Latachaplee union parishad, said the forest department cannot sell the trees as local people are the original owners. Forest department should pay those villagers who planted the trees, he added.

During a recent visit to the area, this correspondent found that many trees on the dyke had been cut down.

Mohipur Forest Department Ranger (range officer) Abul Kalam Azad said they planted 10,000 trees on the dyke in 2013-14 fiscal year under social afforestation project. Fifty five percent of total value of the trees will be given to the land owner, but the trees have no owners as local people cannot plant anything on government land.

They have informed the higher authorities about the matter, he added.

Kalapara Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Tanveer Rahman said that he asked the forest officials to resolve the matter and they will look into it.