Felling of roadside trees on

A section of people have continued illegal felling of trees beside Baufal-Kalishuri road in Baufal upazila of Patuakhali district in absence of supervision and necessary action by the authorities concerned. Photo: STAR

Illegal feeling of roadside trees in Baufal upazila goes unabated due to lack of supervision and necessary actions by the authorities concerned.
Some local influential people cut down at least 25 trees on both sides of Baufal-Kalishuri road in the last one month until February 2.
Baufal upazila LGED sources said the department planted trees on the 3.50-km road from Golabari to Bangla Bazar about 12 years ago.
Locals alleged that one Ali Hossain of the area felled at least eight roadside trees--six rain trees, one mahogany and one koroi--in Golabari trawler ghat area on Saturday last. He also cut down four more trees in the same area a few days ago, they said.
Abu Bakar Siddique, another local influential of same area, cut down two rain trees during the period, two witnesses told this correspondent on condition of anonymity.
Abdul Quader Mridha, also an influential man in the area, have engaged two labourers to fell two rain trees near Bangla Bazar area on the road. The labourers may fell the trees anytime, locals said.
While visiting the area on Saturday, Ali Hossain told this correspondent that he felled the trees that he planted on his land beside the road. Abdul Quader Mridha and Abu Bakar Siddique echoed the same.
Contacted, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) ABM Sadikur Rahman said the matter has already come to his notice. “I have asked the upazila LGED engineer to visit the spot and take lawful action against the persons involved.