Gofran Biswas Palash, Kalapara (Patuakhali)

Miscreants cut down 65 mango saplings in Kuakata Reserve Forest area of Patuakhali. This incident happened on Tuesday night.

It has been reported that Sohel, son of Najir Majhi, a fisherman in South Mussulliabad village of Patuakhali's Kuakata reserved forest area, planted 75 mango saplings on the forest department's land. Miscreants cut down 65 saplings on Tuesday mid night. This incident has created anger in the area.

Locals said, there may be enmity with someone. For this reason, to cut the saplings of the mango tree, it will be a kind of enmity. We strongly condemn such actions and demand justice.

Garden owner Sohel alleged that due to political enmity neighbors Bashir, Bellal, Anshar, Kalam cut the mango saplings in the dark of night. He planted this tree a year ago. Sohel also said that he spent 20,000 taka by hunting fish in the sea and planted mango saplings.

Nazir Majhi, Sohel's father, said, "Because we have different political ideologies, a group of 7-8 people including Bashir, Bellal from the neighboring areas attacked and beat me and seriously injured me, as well as attacked and vandalized my house due to the fall of the government. Because of this, my son's mango saplings were cut. We want a fair trial.

Neighbor Abul Hossain said, after getting the news in the morning, he came to see who or what cut the mango saplings in Sohel's garden. But those who have done so have done a heinous thing. It should be severely punished.

However, the accused Kalam denied cutting mango saplings and said, "We do not know who is cutting the saplings. Unnecessarily slandering us. Investigation will reveal its secret. He said they harassed various people during the Awami League period. He claims that they have made such complaints to harass the common people.

Md. Abul Kalam, Mohipur Range Officer of Patuakhali Coastal Forest Department said in this regard, I heard that miscreants have cut down the saplings of mango trees planted by Sohel in our reserve forest area. He said, that land belongs to our forest department. Nazir Majhi and his son Sohel have cultivated fallow land as villagers and created orchards with our permission.