Salek Hossain Rony, Kishoreganj

Local residents in Katiadi upazila of Kishoreganj have lodged a formal written complaint with the UNO accusing several individuals of cutting down branches and a major portion of a Jam (black plum) tree grown on government land.

The incident took place in Pardiyakul village under the Dholdia union of the upazila.recently.  The written complaint names six individuals: Sharif, Khokon, Kajol, Siraj, Lal Mia, and Wahid, alongside 10 other unidentified persons.

According to the complaint, the Jam tree had grown over a long period on government land adjacent to pillars beside a road constructed or maintained by the LGED. Recently, a few locals allegedly chopped off branches and a large section of the tree without any official permission, raising serious concerns about the safety and survival of the remaining structure.

The complainant stated that after police were informed, the accused halted the cutting work, though a significant portion of the tree had already been damaged. The incident has sparked widespread resentment among locals.

The petition demands a field investigation to verify the location and land ownership, check whether any official permission was granted, and take legal action against those involved. It also requests authorities to monitor whether there are any ongoing attempts to remove the cut branches and remaining parts.

Copies of the complaint have also been forwarded to the Kishoreganj Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police, Divisional Forest Officer, Katiadi Upazila Engineer, and the chairman of the respective union parishad.

"Unauthorised felling of a tree on government land should not be overlooked in any way," the complainant said, emphasizing the need for a neutral investigation to identify the culprits and demanding prompt administrative intervention to protect public property.

When contacted over the phone, accused Khokon claimed, "The tree had already died. We only trimmed the branches and did not cut down the entire tree. We stopped the work immediately after the administration intervened and have also returned the cut branches."

Katiadi UNO  Shamima Akhter Marliz said,  "Upon receiving information about the felling of a government tree, the administration took immediate steps to halt it. The accused were cutting branches at the time and had not downed the whole tree. They stopped cutting after our intervention and returned the pruned branches, while also admitting their mistake and apologizing."

The UNO added, "Had the tree been completely chopped down or had there been an attempt to re-occupy the government land, regular legal cases and stricter measures would have been taken against the accused. Since they admitted their wrongdoing, legal action was not pursued instantly."