There is a fierce fire all over the country. Surviving in the scorching sun and scorching heat is now the responsibility. Some blame the cutting of trees as the cause of this natural disaster. However, in the name of development in Shariatpur, various areas are being almost deforested.
In the current financial year alone, the forest department has been accused of unplanned cutting of around 1700 trees along the 19 km road in the district. This has increased the prestige of the district.
According to local and forest department sources, in the current financial year, the forest department has tendered and sold around 1700 trees under the poverty alleviation project along the 19 km road in six upazilas of the district. In this, four kilometers from Bangla Bazar to Ghoraghat, five kilometers from Atong DC Road to Pom-Lakarta of Sadar Upazila have been cut. Besides, one kilometer from old Mollar Bazar to Bangla Bazar in Vedarganj upazila, five kilometers from Charpayatli to Hakim Ali Bridge, three kilometers from Svanirbhar to Qutubpur in Damudya and one kilometer from Daptari Bari to Malangchara in Gosairhat have been cut.
There were various species of trees including Arjuna, Neem, Raintree, Kari along these roads. In addition, the forest department has marked several road trees waiting for sale. However, in the last three years, the forest department has not planted a single tree even though trees have been cut by the government. In this, the shaded roads are now heated by the pure sun, causing discomfort to the pedestrians.
The surface can be seen on Chaikhgaon and Bala Bazar road, the trees on the road are no more. Large trees have been cut down and removed. The once shaded roads now bask in the intense sun.
The one kilometer road from Rudrakar Bala Bazar to Ghoraghat was once lined with Arjun, Neem, Hartaki, Krishnachura, Raintree, Kadai trees. Local people used to visit the place to get relief from the scorching heat during summer. At least 400 trees were cut on this road last few months. Currently, the intense sun is spreading heat on the road.
Local resident Imran Hossain told Jago News, ‘Every year when summer comes, we all go and sit on the side of Bala Bazar road. As the wind blows here, Krishna Chura flowers become red-coloured. Currently, all the trees on the road have been cut down. Apart from destroying the beauty of the road, our area has become more crowded.’
Just like this road, Chaikhgaon Banglabazar road was shaded by various trees. The trees of that road have been sold by the forest department. Ramiz Molla, a local farmer, said, ‘My paddy land is next to this road. Every year after harvesting the paddy when I was very tired in the heat, I used to sit under the roadside trees and relax. Now those big trees are gone. All have been cut off.’
Local social worker advocate Touhid Kotwal said, ‘Climate change is one of the reasons for increasing temperature. We need to plant more trees to combat climate change. But the forest department of Shariatpur has cut down at least 1500 trees without replanting them on the roadside. It’s really sad.’
The forest department has acknowledged the fact of cutting trees and said to plant new trees. If asked, the district forest officer said. Salahuddin said that the trees planted by the forest department are cut every 10 years under the poverty alleviation scheme. In the current year, several trees have been cut on the 19 km road. However, we will plant at least 19,000 trees this year as per the contract.
In this regard, Shariatpur District Commissioner Muhammad Nizam Uddin Ahmed said, I will look into the matter of cutting trees on the road. A decision on planting new trees will be taken later.
SR/GKS
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