The Meherpur Road Department has taken an initiative to cut down 1,440 century-old trees of different species along the Meherpur-Mujibnagar and Meherpur-Chuadanga regional highways.
The department felled about 1,000 century-old trees a year ago for the widening of Meherpur-Kushtia Regional Highway. Although one thousand trees were cut, no tree was planted.
Local residents and environmentalists have expressed their dissatisfaction after hearing the initiative to cut a large number of trees again in Meherpur.
Many people believe that the highest temperature in the country has been recorded in Meherpur this season due to the cutting of century-old karai, mahogany, shimul, and neem trees. The Meherpur Road Department has taken the initiative to cut 1,440 trees along the Meherpur-Mujibnagar and Meherpur-Chuadanga regional highways.
Meanwhile, the road department has written a letter to the Meherpur district council requesting to take the necessary steps to cut the trees. While visiting the spot, it has been seen that the department has numbered the trees in red. Some trees are slightly above the road, while most of the trees are outside the road. But almost all the trees have been numbered.
The common people of Meherpur are dissatisfied with the initiative to cut these trees. According to them, if the trees are cut again, Meherpur will no longer be liveable. Natural calamities will occur.
Mujibnagar upazila's Abdullah Al Mamun, who has been recommended recently for BCS (education) cadre, said it is now difficult to travel on Meherpur-Kushtia road during daytime. But a few years ago, it was a road surrounded by greenery. Another initiative has been taken to cut about 1,500 trees on Mujibnagar and Chuadanga roads. If tress are really cut, then it would be suicidal for all of us, he said.
Several pedestrians, including Sabbir, Rashed, Sohel, said the highest temperature recorded in Meherpur this time was 43.7 degrees. “If the trees that have been protecting us from natural calamities for hundreds of years are cut, we may not be able to live in Meherpur next year due to natural disasters,” said one of them.
Environmentalists have also expressed anger at the initiative to cut trees. Meherpur environmental worker Masud Reza said the whole world is working to prevent climate change. “Our honourable Prime Minister is repeatedly urging to plant trees. Still, taking the initiative to cut the trees is very sad. How will our Meherpur overcome the damage that will be caused by cutting these century-old trees on the pretext of road renovation or widening? There is a lot of space on the side of the road.”
When asked why the trees are being cut, Mizanur Rahman, sub-divisional engineer of Meherpur Road Department, said the trees have come over the road. Accidents can happen at any time. Moreover, the road cannot be renovated or widened due to the trees. That is why we have informed the district council through a letter along with the list and asked to arrange the tree cutting.”
Meherpur District Council Chairman Mohammad Abdus Salam said, “We have received a letter with a list. Our surveyor will go. Only those that they deem necessary will be cut.”
