Stop felling trees along Dhaka-Sylhet highway

Logs lie beside Sylhet-Dhaka highway near Chunarughat upazila headquarters in Habiganj district, bearing testimony to the mindless felling of such trees during the last several days. PHOTO: STAR

Environmentalists and civil society members have demanded taking effective measures to stop felling of roadside trees in Chandpur-Shayestaganj Bazar and Chunarughat-Satiajuri areas of Dhaka-Sylhet Highway in Chunarughat upazila of Habiganj district.
"The government authorities cut down around 2500 large roadside trees in last one week. We demand stopping such callous act," Tofazzal Sohel, general secretary of Habiganj unit Bangladesh Poribesh Andolan, said yesterday.
Visiting Chandpur-Shayestaganj Bazar and Chunarughat-Satiajuri areas in Chunarughat yesterday, this correspondent found signs of massive tree felling.  
The local government and forest department in the upazila planted around 3171 trees including shishu, mahogany, and eucalyptus beside the road stretching 26km area 13 years ago, locals said.
Forest officials said the 3171 roadside trees belong to 25 lots and of them, around 2500 trees of 18 lots are being sold, the price being Tk 45 lakh 41 thousand 893.
Firoj Alam Chowdhury, head of Range-1 under Habiganj Forest Department, said, "We are selling trees belonging to 18 lots as those are date expired trees."