The mangoes were sour anyway!

A total of 166 mango trees in front of Barishal's Bakerganj Upazila Parishad office have been cut down by authorities. When asked why this was done, the upazila chairperson said since the trees bear sour mangoes, they chopped them down to construct a new building.

On Friday and Saturday, authorities cut the trees down and removed the branches in a clandestine manner.

According to locals, seven years ago, then Barishal deputy commissioner Md Shahidul Alam planted the local variety of trees and built the mango orchard, locally known as DC's Garden. Apart from Bakerganj, Shahidul had planted trees in every upazila, confirmed Barishal DC office.

Syed Amiruzzaman Ripon, councillor of the upazila parishad's

ward-5, said former DC Md Ajiar Rahman had chosen a place behind the parishad office for constructing a four-storey building. But the decision was changed, and authorities settled on constructing the building in the orchard by felling the trees.

Contacted, Upazila Forest Officer Mahidur Rahman said, "Permission is needed from the forest department to fell trees, but they have done so without permission."

As further reasoning, Bakerganj Upazila Chairperson Samsul Alam Chunnu said because of the trees, the parishad building was not visible.

Asked about authorities taking no permission, he said if they had sought permission from the forest department, as per the rules, they would not have received it even after four or five years.

"We will plant trees of good varieties," he added.

Contacted, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Madhabi Roy said, "I was on leave when they did this."

Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon Barishal Divisional Coordinator Rafiqul Alam said felling so many trees in the name of development is not justifiable at all. Punitive measures must be taken.