Trees felled as per land official's will
A land official has allegedly cut down 10 trees on government land without proper permission from the authorities concerned at Shakuai union parishad (UP) in Haluaghat upazila.
Md Sahabuddin, official of Shakuai Land Office at the union parishad, felled the trees at the office premises for his personal benefits, alleged locals.
UP Chairman Nazim Uddin Ahmed said “The official has recently cut down the trees without informing us.”
The land official said four large trees fell upon the roof of the office room long ago and those were felled 10 days ago to avoid possible risk of accident which may happen due to storm in coming season.
Replying to a query, the official said the other six small trees broke down when the larger trees fell on those. Later, the six trees were also cut down to clear the area, said the official.
He also said he took verbal permission from upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) to fell the trees.
The trees were sold at Tk 1.10 lakh and the money is being spent for development of the land office and making furniture for it, he said.
Contacted, UNO Md Zakir Hossain declined to make any comment on the issue.
Divisional Forest Officer AKM Ruhul Amin said in case of selling out tress on government land, prior permission from the forest department is needed. But the official could not confirm whether such permission was taken or not.
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