Saat masjid road: DSCC mayor ‘apologises’ for tree felling
Says they had no other option; protesters say ‘sorry’ not enough
Terming the felling of trees on Saat Masjid Road unfortunate, DSCC Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh yesterday said at times, trees have to be felled for development.
"We are sorry if people are hurt," he said while speaking to reporters at an event in Lalbagh. "We only cut trees when there are no alternatives. More trees will be planted in places where trees were felled," he added. The mayor continued, "I've been in the office for three years. Two lakh trees have already been planted by us during the tenure."
Environmental activists have been continuing their protest against the felling of trees by DSCC for road development work on Saat Masjid Road in Dhanmondi. They allege that 600 trees have already been cut in the area.
Denouncing the mayor's statement, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, chief executive of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association, said, "We demand a declaration from the mayor that no more trees will be felled, not only on Saat Masjid Road, but everywhere in the city."
Coordinator of Saat Masjid Road Tree Protection Movement Amirul Rajiv said, "We heard the mayor said sorry for the tree cutting. But sorry isn't enough after cutting over 600 trees."
"It won't bring back the trees. We don't accept his apology," he added.