A Jubo Dal leader has been expelled from his party post following allegations of cutting down hundreds of government-owned trees in Lalmohan upazila of Bhola. The expelled leader is Md. Jasim Uddin, president of the Ramaganj Union unit of Jubo Dal. He is also a teacher at Raichand Udaychandra Secondary School.

The expulsion was confirmed in a press release issued on Saturday night and signed by Bhola district Jubo Dal President Md. Jamal Uddin Liton and General Secretary Md. Abdul Kader Selim.

According to the press release, Jasim Uddin was expelled from all party positions, including his primary membership, over specific allegations of damaging state property and engaging in activities contrary to the party’s principles, ideology and organizational unity. The party also stated that it would not take responsibility for any misconduct by the expelled leader and instructed party members at all levels to sever organizational ties with him.

According to local sources, the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) is currently undertaking a road-widening project along a nearly five-kilometre stretch from Kartarhat to Raichand Bazar in Ramaganj Union.

As some trees needed to be removed for the project, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) wrote to the Upazila Range Officer, asking for an assessment of the number and estimated value of trees suitable for felling. Following a field inspection, authorities identified only 24 trees for removal.

However, before any tender was issued, more than 400 trees of different species, including rain trees, mahogany and chamble, were allegedly cut down and removed by Jasim Uddin. The estimated market value of the trees is around Tk 5 million.

Denying the allegations, Jasim Uddin said he was not involved in cutting down the trees. He claimed that political opponents were spreading propaganda to tarnish his reputation.

Lalmohan Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mohammad Sifat Bin Sadek said no tender had been issued for cutting down the roadside trees. However, authorities had received complaints that a group was cutting and removing the trees.

He said an investigation was underway and legal action would be taken against anyone found responsible based on its findings.