Old trees felled in Barisal

These trees are on the verge of being chopped down as development work continues in front of Barisal General Hospital. Photo: STAR

Some 40 old trees on the premises of Barisal General Hospital are being felled to construct a drain and footpath along the boundary wall of the hospital.
During a visit to the hospital early yesterday, this correspondent noticed that workers of a contractor selected by Barisal City Corporation (BCC) had felled four mango trees.
Preparations for felling dozens more palm, mango, mahogany and other trees were going on to construct the drain and footpath by a road in front of the hospital.
Contacted, Anisur Rahman, executive engineer of BCC, said “Workers of the contractor cut down the trees without informing the BCC authority.”
Engineer Shahidul Alam, proprietor of the contractor firm Mahfuz Enterprise, however, denied the BCC official's claim, saying that they were felling the trees as per the approved plan, design and schedule of the tender contract of BCC.
If BCC authorities want to spare those trees, they have to revise the terms and conditions of the schedule, he added.
They are felling those trees to complete the construction work of footpath and drain speedily, an official of the construction firm told The Daily Star preferring not to be named.
They are doing the work at their own cost as the hospital authorities refused to cut down the trees, he said adding that the trees will be sold and the proceeds will be deposited to the hospital fund.
Dr Md Shamsuddin, resident medical officer of the hospital, said the BCC authorities could construct the drain and footpath keeping the old trees in their places.
He also mentioned that the hospital authorities recently constructed a new boundary wall without cutting down the trees.
BCC plans to widen the road in front of the hospital from 30-foot to 38-foot with a four feet wide drain cum footpath along the boundary wall.
Dr Mizanur Rahman, member secretary of Barisal Nagarik Samaj, protested the incident of tree felling, saying “Any development work must not continue at the cost of our heritage or environment.”
Advocate Subhash Chandra Das Bipro Bedanti, district coordinator of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association, said they do not have enough manpower to launch campaigns to stop illegal tree felling.