Ruet suspends cutting down of trees as project director fails to show forest dept’s permission

The authorities of Rajshahi University of Engineering Technology (Ruet) suspended the activities of felling trees on the campus today.

Ruet also found the authority of development project implementation was felling trees without necessary permission from the forest department.

The project director of development projects has been asked to submit necessary documents to the Ruet authority in three days by which they decided to cut down the trees.

The latest development came following a report published in The Daily Star and movement of local people, according to officials.

"We didn't form any committee to investigate the matter as everything is happening before our eyes," Ruet Registrar Md Selim Hossain told The Daily Star.

He said top officials of Ruet called the project director Amit Roy Chowdhury to the vice-chancellor's office for some queries.

"He was asked to show the necessary permission for felling the trees, but he could not," the registrar said.

Project Director Amit only presented a copy seeking permission of the Department of Environment dated March 15, 2020 but not the copy of its permission.

He also failed to provide a copy of evaluation report of the trees' values by the forest department, he said.

"Under these circumstances, we decided to stop felling trees," the registrar said, adding, "Most of the trees have already been felled by this time…there is no need to cut down any more trees."