More than 400 government-owned trees have allegedly been cut down along a road in Lalmohan upazila of Bhola district by a local Jubo Dal leader without completion of the tender process. Local residents estimate the market value of the trees at around Tk 5 million.

The alleged tree felling has reportedly continued for days, prompting public anger over what residents describe as a lack of effective action by the upazila administration. Questions have also been raised about the role of the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO).

The Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) is implementing a road-widening project along an approximately five-kilometre stretch from Kartarhat to Raichand Bazar in Ramaganj Union. As some roadside trees needed to be removed for the project, the UNO sent a letter to the upazila range officer, asking him to assess the number of trees suitable for felling and their estimated value.

Abdullah Al Mamun, the upazila range officer, said he had inspected the site in accordance with the instructions and identified 24 trees for removal. He said the estimated tender value of those trees had been communicated to the UNO’s office in a letter. However, he added that the trees were not owned by the Forest Department.

Allegations have since emerged that roadside trees were being cut before the tender process was completed. The names of Md. Jasim Uddin, a teacher at Raichand Udaychandra Secondary School and president of Ramaganj Union Jubo Dal, and his associate Masum Billah have surfaced in connection with the allegations.

According to several local sources, more than 400 trees of different species, including rain trees, mahogany and chambul, have already been felled. Their estimated value is around Tk 5 million. Sources further alleged that most of the felled trees were transported to different districts in covered vans under the cover of darkness and sold to local traders. Some of the timber is reportedly being stored and sold at a sawmill owned by local resident Md. Monir.

Residents also alleged that soil from the ongoing roadwork had been used to cover the bases of many felled trees to conceal evidence of the cutting. Some trees were allegedly uprooted along with their roots.

Md. Monir, the local sawmill owner, has also been accused of assisting in the felling and sale of the trees. Asked about the allegations, he said he had arranged workers to cut the trees at the request of Jasim Master and Masum Billah, leaders of the local Jubo Dal. However, he denied cutting any trees himself.

A tree-cutting worker, Md. Mamun, said he worked for wages and had cut trees along the Kartarhat-Ramaganj road on the instructions of Jasim Master.

Repeated attempts to contact Jasim Uddin by phone for comment were unsuccessful. His associate Masum Billah, however, claimed that they had won a tender for 48 trees along the Kartarhat-Ramaganj road for Tk 186,000 and were cutting only those trees.

Upazila Engineer Md. Maidul Islam Khan said there was uncertainty over the ownership of the roadside trees and that discussions were underway with the Forest Department. He acknowledged being aware of the tree felling and said he had informed the UNO about the matter.

UNO Mohammad Sifat Bin Sadek said the administrative process concerning permission to cut the trees and the tender had not yet been completed.

He said the general guideline was to plant five trees for every tree cut. As no final decision had been reached, the tender process remained underway. However, he confirmed receiving a written complaint about the roadside tree felling 10 to 12 days earlier.

Local residents alleged that the administration had failed to take timely action despite being informed. They claimed that most of the trees had already been cut and that felling was still continuing openly.

Some residents questioned how hundreds of trees could allegedly be cut in broad daylight before the completion of the tender and approval processes. They called for an urgent investigation and appropriate action by the authorities.

They also pointed to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s public calls for people to plant trees, arguing that the alleged felling raised concerns about the protection of public resources and the enforcement of environmental regulations.

The allegations against the individuals named in the report have not been independently verified. The relevant authorities’ findings will be important in determining whether the tree felling violated any rules or regulations.