Sohel Kanti Nath, Bandarban

In the name of rural road renovation and development in Bandarban, hundreds of trees on both sides of the road are being cut indiscriminately. Such allegations have been made against a person named Amanullah. The incident took place on the 7.150 km long road from Bandarban-Keranihat main road to Reicha-Goaliakhola in Sadar Upazila of Bandarban district.

It is learnt from the field that this area has hills, plains, agricultural land and is directly related to the Sangu River. Therefore, crops grow here in all seasons.

The area around the road is famous for its highest plain and agricultural land in the district, so the area is also known as the "heart" of Bandarban or the capital of vegetable production of Bandarban in the mouth of the residents. More than a thousand different species of trees are surrounded on both sides of this road. The trees on both sides of the road have been providing shade for many years, and there are fields of various types of vegetables across the flat ground. About five hundred trees have already been cut down from the trees on both sides of the road, and many of the branches have been cut off. The trunks of many trees are being uprooted with excavators.

Locals complain that a group led by a man named Amanullah has cut down more than five hundred trees before the road renovation or expansion work begins. This group has cut down the trees from the roots. After cutting, they uproot the trunks of the trees with excavators and fill them with soil. As if the traces of the trees were erased after cutting them.

Meanwhile, locals claim that two years ago, both sides of this road were surrounded by green fences with various species of trees. But in the name of road expansion, trees of various species aged 25 to 60 years are being cut down indiscriminately. As a result, the beauty of the area is being ruined along with the destruction of trees. Locals also said that they will have to wait another 50 years for such trees.

According to the Bandarban Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), in the financial year 2023-24, the Bandarban Local Government Engineering Department has undertaken a project to strengthen and develop the 7.150 km long road from Bandarban-Keranihat main road to Reicha-Goaliakhola at a cost of Tk 30.5 crore funded by LGED, and the work is ongoing.

Workers Nazrul and Mohammad Rafiq, who are engaged in tree cutting work, said that a businessman named Amanullah Aman asked us to cut the trees. We have been cutting trees for 4 days. We have been able to cut about 55-60 trees in 4 days. The workers said that all the trees on both sides of the road will be cut. They also said that we cut the branches of the trees during the day. At night, they come and cut the trees from the base and take them in a truck. Another group, the next day, used an excavator to dig up the stumps and fill them with soil, so that the signs of tree felling would not be easily discernible.

Claiming that he got permission to cut these trees through an auction, tree cutter Amanullah Aman said that when the budget was prepared for the expansion of this road, the trees were put up for auction at the union parishad office under the leadership of former chairman of Bandarban Sadar Union Parishad Sabukhoy Marma. He said that he got permission to cut a total of 1,000 trees on both sides of the road for Tk 10 lakh in the auction held in 2018.

In this regard, former chairman of Sadar Union of Bandarban district Sabukhoy Marma said that after receiving instructions from the upazila administration, LGED, informing that the district Local Government Engineering Department had allocated a budget for the development and expansion of the Reicha-Goalakhola road, an auction was called on November 18, 2018, to cut the trees on the side of the Reicha-Goalakhola road.

In the auction, a local tree trader named Amanullah Aman won the auction for Tk 10 lakh. Before cutting the trees, he gave me Tk 5 lakh. Amanullah started cutting trees because he would pay the money in cash and pay the rest later. When the Upazila Administration and Forest Department opposed the cutting of trees, Amanullah filed a case in court with the Upazila Administration, LGED, Union Parishad and Forest Department as defendants.

Bandarban Sadar Forest Department Range Officer Sultan Mahmud Tipu said that the Reicha-Goakhola road is under the local administration.

The Forest Department is not a party there. There are ongoing cases in court over the cutting of trees on both sides of the road. Moreover, according to the Road Permit Act in the Chittagong Hill Tracts in 1970, "No form of transportation of any type of trees and bamboo in the mountains can be carried out without a permit from the Forest Department." So if anyone transports trees without the permission of the Forest Department, the Forest Department will take action according to the Transport Act.

Bandarban Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) Senior Engineer Parvez Sarwar Hossain said that LGED is a state institution. "Since it works for the development of the state, LGED will not do any work that harms the state, its people, or the environment, and we cannot recommend or give permission to anyone to cut trees or destroy the environment," he said.