25,000 trees disappear from Garo Hills in Sherpur

Not just one or two, but nearly 25,000 trees have been felled.  The entire social forestry plantation on 10 hectares of hilly land has now been almost completely cleared. Even the bases and roots of the trees have been removed. The incident at the Minjuri plantation under the Madhutila Range in Nalitabari, Sherpur, has affected 25 beneficiaries. Locals claim that the market value of the felled trees exceeds Tk 4 million. The fact that such a large number of trees were cut down without coming to the attention of the Forest Department has raised questions about its monitoring.

According to Forest Department and local sources, the plantation was set up on 10 hectares of hilly land in the Daodhara-Katabari mouza under the Batkuchi Beat of the Madhutila Range during the 2017-18 fiscal year as part of a social forestry program. Around 25,000 akashmoni saplings were planted there, with 25 people made beneficiaries of the project.

A recent visit to the site found that most of the plantation no longer had any trees. Grass and weeds had grown in some areas, while pieces of felled trees lay scattered elsewhere. Locals alleged that an organized group had been cutting down the trees for a long time. They said the bases and roots of many trees were also removed to destroy evidence.

Nur Mohammad, one of the beneficiaries, said they would no longer receive any money because the trees had been cut down. He said the Forest Department could have prevented the felling if it had wanted to.

Another beneficiary, Md Rukonuddin, said they did not see who cut the trees at night. However, he said the incident had caused them financial losses.

During a visit to the forest area, a tractor trolley was seen transporting timber. A trolley driver named Karim said they were carrying the timber from Daodhara to Kusumhati in Sherpur. He also said they had not been given any documents for transporting the timber.

However, local timber trader and Union Parishad member Abdul Karim claimed that the trees damaged by fire, storms, and elephant attacks were later cut down by the beneficiaries and local residents.

Environmental activists have alleged negligence or involvement on the part of Forest Department officials. Dewan Ali, officer of the Madhutila Range, said he was unaware of the matter and denied the allegations.

Kazi Muhammad Nurul Karim, divisional forest officer of the Mymensingh division, said the matter was being investigated. A committee has been formed to investigate the incident. He said those responsible would face legal action if they are identified through the investigation.