Nothing can stop Hyder's tree planting 'mission'

Although the local land grabbers felled around 250 trees of Hyder Ali, they failed to deter him from planting fresh trees on the embankment. PHOTO: STAR

Miscreants at dead of night on November 16 felled 250 trees voluntarily planted by an elderly man on the embankment of an unused irrigation canal at Bakdokra village in Saidpur upazila.

The elderly local had previously planted 2,000 trees on the embankment at his own cost and was shocked at the act, which allegedly aimed at encroaching on the canal.

Hyder Ali, aged about 60, filed a complaint with police mentioning names of alleged influential land grabbers living near the canal. He has also started planting saplings of different trees again to bring back greenery and save the canal land.

Locals say Hyder earns his livelihood and leads his family by working as a day labourer on others' farmland.

Villagers have appointed him as a muezzin (who calls for prayers) at a local mosque for his honesty and integrity and he has been carrying out this additional duty sincerely.

They say Hyder with a portion of his small everyday income has been buying saplings of fruit bearing and herbal trees and planting those on both sides of the canal, which falls under the Teesta irrigation project, beside his house for three years.

He has planted around 2,000 trees in three years so far, they said.

With permission from the local Union Parishad chairman, he has been voluntarily trying to keep the environment green and make a safe abode for birds. His family members have to remain half-fed sometimes, as he has to spend from his minimum income, locals told this correspondent.

Hyder takes care of the trees for one hour after Fazr prayers everyday by weeding, watering and putting bend trees in upright state with sticks before going out for his day-to-day work.

When he was going to take care of the trees in the morning of November 17, he was shocked to see that miscreants had felled 250 trees overnight.

During a visit to the embankment recently, this correspondent found Hyder Ali busy planting new saplings to replace the felled trees.

In a chocked voice, Hyder said it would be better if the local criminals had broken his hands and legs instead of felling the trees. He, however, expressed his determination to continue with his work and never be afraid of complaining to police against the offenders.

“Mozammel Huq, Moyezuddin and Ratan Mia, who have cultivable land beside the canal, threatened me the previous day not to plant trees on the embankment saying it was not my father's property,” he said.

They had a desire to occupy the embankment to extend their land and considered the trees as an obstacle to execute their intention, he alleged.

Caretaker of the canal Joynal said they had never prevented Hyder from planting trees as his selfless services protected the embankment from land grabbers, who already occupied a portion of the embankment before he had started plantation.

The Bangladesh Water Development Board appointed Joynal to oversee the canal and its other infrastructure.

Refuting allegation of felling trees and occupying the canal land, Mozammel said Hyder had been creating shades of trees on their land to “ruin” standing crops.

Ziko Ahmed, chairman of Kamarpukur Union Parishad, said he was shocked at hearing the news of felling trees as services of such a selfless man like Hyder Ali were rare in the society.

Ismail Hossain, officer in-charge of Saidpur police, said they had raided the houses of the accused but failed to arrest them as they were on the run.

Earlier, Hyder Ali filed a case with the police accusing the three day after the incident.