Ruling party men's tree felling 'fest'

Log from a felled roadside tree lies on Lalmonirhat-Mohendranagar road at Nizpara village in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila, bearing testimony to such illegal acts in different areas of the district allegedly by ruling Awami League men on Eid day and the day before. PHOTO: STAR

Over 100 roadside trees were felled alleged by the ruling party men in five upazilas of the district in the morning of Eid Day and the day before.
Locals alleged that the ruling party men with the connivance of some unscrupulous district council staff cut down the trees beside Lalmonirhat-Mahendranagar Road in Sadar upazila; Saptibari-Kalmati Road, Saptibari-Velabari Road, and Hajiganj-Chaparhat Road in Aditmari upazila; Tisbhandar-Chaparhat Road, and Kakina-Baninagar Road in Kaliganj upazila; Hatibandha-Tongbhanga Road, Hatibandha-Goddimari Road, and Lalmonirhat-Burimari Highway in Hatibandha upazila; and Patgram-Panbari Road, and Patgram-Jagotber Road in Patgram upazila.
While visiting the Lalmonirhat--Mahendranagar Road in Sadar upazila on Saturday, local told this correspondent that some BCL and Jubo League men felled at least 20 big roadside trees in Nizpara area on Thursday and Friday.
The villagers didn't disclose the names of the BCL and Jubo League men, fearing harassment. Anwar Hossain of Mahendranagar village said they will disclose the names of the people involved in roadside tree-felling only to an official probe body.
Montazur Rahman, another villager, said some BCL and Jubo league men have felled the roadside trees, saying that they have got them as Eid bonus from their leader. They didn't mention the name of the leader, he added.
Babul Hossain, general secretary of Mohendranagar union unit of AL, said no AL man was involved in roadside tree-felling. “Unknown criminals have cut down the trees and I have already informed the district council administrator of the matter,” he said.
Mohendranagar UP Chairman Abdus Sobahan Mondol said he filed a complaint with the district council, but to no effect. He further said that 15 to 20 BCL and Jubo League men were involved in this illegal act.
Sadequzzaman, a schoolteacher in Patgram upazila, alleged that some identified BCL and Jubo League men were involved in felling roadside trees in the upazila.
Contacted, Motiar Rahman, district council administrator and also the general secretary of AL district unit, said he will take necessary actions against the persons responsible for cutting down the roadside trees after a proper investigation.