The Chapainawabganj, a drainage system, is being constructed on one side of a road at a distance of only 250 meters. The Roads and Highways Department had requested that the local government cut down trees in that area. Currently, the local government is cutting down trees on both sides of the approximately 2-kilometer road.
Local workers have been engaged in cutting these trees for the past 12 days, and it will take another 10 days to complete the work.
The road has been extended from the Godagari sub-district headquarters in Rajshahi to the Chapainawabganj Sadar and Nachol sub-districts, and from there to the Gandasa Pahar sub-district headquarters. Trees on both sides of the road from Kendul of Chapainawabganj Sadar sub-district to the Amnur bypass railway station have also been cut.
Chapainawabganj, the local government, has sold 250 trees for about 26 lakh taka. However, there have been allegations that significantly more trees have been felled than reported. The local government stated that one of their representatives was present during the tree felling, and there was no opportunity to cut additional trees. However, no representative was seen during the felling of government-owned trees.
Approximately two kilometers of road from Kendul to the Amnur bypass railway station have already been cleared by cutting down thousands of trees like shimul, kadai, and baby. Just a few days ago, the once-shaded Amanur market is now without shade due to the lack of trees.
Amanur Bazar businessman Abdur Rahim said, "The trees used to provide us with a lot of shade, but since they have been removed, we no longer have shade."
In the Kendul area, several workers were seen cutting fresh cardamom trees, and some of the cut trees were also being transported on trolleys. No representative of the district council was seen there.
The contractor's representative, Kabir Hossain, denied the allegation of additional tree cutting and stated that they have been cutting trees for 10 days and that it will take another 10 days to complete the work.
Afaz Uddin, the Executive Officer of Chapainawabganj local government, told Voice7 News, "The Roads and Public Paths Department will provide drainage on one side of the road, which is why they have sent us a letter. That's why the trees are being cut, even though they are fresh."
Although the Executive Officer was informed about the letter from the Roads and Highways Department, Voice7 News learned from the Roads and Highways Department that the drainage will only cover 250 meters on one side of the road. Mehdi Hasan, the sub-divisional engineer of the Chapainawabganj Roads and Highways Department, said, "Our drain will be 250 meters, and that too on one side of the road. I cannot say why the local government is cutting trees on both sides of the road."
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