Jubo League man held for tree looting

The roads in Mahendranagar union of Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila are gradually becoming barren, thanks to rampant tree looting allegedly by ruling party men.

Locals on Monday caught red-handed Badsha Miah, president of Mahendranagar union Jubo League, youth wing of Awami League, when he and his cohorts were felling trees beside Kashipur-Lalmonirhat road and handed him over to police.

Badsha, son of Akbar Mandol at Gobai village of Mahendranagar union, was produced before the court and the court sent him to jail the same day, said Lalmonirhat Sadar Police Station OC Mahfuz Alam.

Police lodged a case against Badsha Miah on charge of felling roadside trees, he added.

“Villagers made a strong protest when Badsha and his four or five men were felling roadside trees at the village. At one stage locals caught him while his cohorts managed to flee. Informed, police came to the spot and arrested Badsha and seized eight felled trees,” said Ashraf Ali, 55, a local at Kashipur village.

Badsha and his men were involved in felling roadside trees for long, he said.

“Felling of roadside trees by ruling party men has become a common scene here. Often we dare not protest in fear of harassment,” said Mansur Ali, 48, at the same village.

“Only a few years ago, the roads in Mahendranagar union were adorned with various types of trees but now most of them look barren due to continued tree looting,” he said.