Move to fell roadside trees triggers protest

Locals form a human chain protesting RHD's move to cut down around 500 old trees to expand a road in Faridpur town yesterday. The photo shows they encircle a tree after workers dug out earth from the bottom as preparation to uproot it.Photo: STAR

Preparations are complete to cut down around five hundred old trees on both the sides of the main road in Faridpur town as Roads and Highways Department (RHD) has started work for construction of a four-lane road in the town.
In last two days, the workers employed by contractors of the RHD have dug out big holes round the bottom of 45 trees and cut down the roots of several old trees including korai, mehogoni and ashwath on the roadside from Zila School to Police Line area.
However, district administration and forest department in Faridpur are yet to give approval for cutting the trees.
RHD office source said, 9 km out of 11 km roads in Faridpur town from Rajbari road crossing to Faridpur River Research Institute and Bhanga Road crossing to Baily bridge of C&B Ghat area will be modified as a four-lane road under the project for development of RHD roads in Faridpur town at a cost of Tk 49 crore 40 lakh 10 thousand in two years.
"Process is on to cut the trees to widen both sides of the road for developing it into a four-lane way. We have sent letter to forest department for permission to cut the trees for the development work," said SM Shafiqul Alam, executive engineer of RHD in Faridpur.
"RHD has informed us about cutting the trees for widening the road for making it a four-lane way but we have not yet given any approval in this regard. The trees may be cut if it is necessary for development of the town," Divisional Forest Officer Ohidul Islam told this correspondent.
Faridpur Deputy Commissioner Helaluddin Ahmed said a committee will be formed to decide which trees will be felled.
Over a hundred people including teachers, students, nature lovers, cultural activists, social workers and politicians joined a human chain and held a rally in front of Faridpur Zila School in protest against the RHD's move to cut roadside trees in the town.
The protesters also encircled the trees around which earth was dug out.
The plan to cut trees in the name of four-way lane is a wrong decision as it will ruin the greenery of the town, speakers said at the meeting.
"We want development of the town but cutting trees would be a suicidal act. People from all walks of life should protest the decision of cutting trees to save the greenery of the town," said Prof Altaf Hossian, convener of Sachetan Nagorik Committee.
Educationist Ramendra Nath Roy Karmoker, Mojibur Rahman, activist of Nishorgo Sangsad, Abu Sufian Chowdhury Kushol, secretary of Faridpur Sahitya O Sangskriti Unnayan Sangstha, playwright Munshi Mohammad Ali Rumi, Rafikuzzaman Layek, leader of Communist Party of Bangladesh, advocate Shipra Goswami, coordinator of Faridpur unit of Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust, spoke at the meeting.
They warned of launching a tougher programme if any more trees are felled.