People take oath to protect Jhau trees on Teknaf sea beach
Several thousand people from five villages of Cox's Bazar yesterday took oath to protect Jhau (tamarisk) trees on Teknaf sea beach as police organised rallies to create awareness in this regard.
Ten rallies were organised by Teknaf Police Station at Katabunia, Kochubunia, Noyapara, Khurermukh and Koanchhory villages adjacent to Teknaf sea beach under Sabrang union for creating public awareness against felling of Jhau trees.
“Thousands of Jhau trees on Teknaf sea beach and adjacent villages were felled down. Though forest department is responsible for protecting the trees, we cannot sit idle. From now on we will protect these trees unitedly,” said Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Teknaf Police Station Jamal Uddin Chowdhury while addressing a rally at Kochubunia.
He said police organised the rallies after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had ordered the arrest of people involved in felling the trees following reports published in The Daily Star and the Prothom Alo.
The OC requested people to inform police station about the people involved in felling the trees and announced a reward of Tk 10,000 for catching the miscreants red handed.
As the speakers delivered their speeches urging people to come forward in protecting the Jhau trees, they raised their hands and took oath to provide information to police about the culprits.
“Sheikh Hasina has ordered to protect the Jhau trees while those involved in felling the trees are the influential people of her party. Now we want to have her order implemented,” said Amir Hossain, a farmer of Bachubonia village.
The rallies were also attended by SI Mahbubur Rahman, local journalists Nazir Ahmed, and businessmen Zafar Ahmad and Farid Alam.
Members of Rab, Police and BDR recovered 7000 cut down Jhau trees on September 12.
Earlier, miscreants felled down at least 30,000 trees from the beach.
Police and BDR till now have arrested eight people in connection with the felling of trees while the forest department has filed a case with Teknaf Police Station against 40 people.
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