The verdant landscape of the Bashundhara residential area has been marred by the indiscriminate felling of hundreds of trees. Along the roads of this residential area in the capital, authorities have decided to cut down all the aged trees, disregarding the protests of environmental activists and local residents. Within just two weeks, these arboreal giants, which have stood sentinel for decades, have been callously brought down. It was observed on the ground on Saturday that almost all the trees on the main road have been cut down. Sayem Sobhan Anvir Road is mostly bare, but other trees on different roads are marked with an “X” for removal, where workers continue their relentless assault on the greenery.

Fardous Ahmed Uzzal, general secretary of the Environment and Climate Change Movement, said the trees had distinguished Bashundhara from other concrete-laden areas. The towering rain trees, whose foliage bursts forth in vibrant hues each spring, were a cherished sight for residents and visitors alike. Yet, these natural treasures now lie in the path of destruction.

He decried the absence of legal protections for trees on private land in Bangladesh and emphasized the urgent need for a law to protect the trees, which should be made mandatory in 2024. However, with Bashundhara being a private domain, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) cannot intervene.

After attempting to seek clarity from the Bashundhara Group, their media advisor, Rahman Masud, said he has no information on this matter. A senior official of Bashundhara Welfare Society hinted at concerns over weak-rooted trees posing hazards to road safety, justifying the mass clearance.

He added that they have a plan to replant twice the number of the trees, offering little solace to those mourning the loss.