Railway police on Monday recovered railway timber in Sadar union of Mirsarai upazila in Chattogram.
Sources said Railway Police recovered 50 feet of wood and 40 tons of firewood from the Garias (Dalaramuh) area of Mirsarai Sadar Union in the upazila while it was being sold and transported.
Witnesses said that a local person named Forkan took lease of the land from Railway for 100 years for harvesting. However, he (Forkan) cut some trees of Railway and sold them to the member of Mithachara Bazar area, Alam.
Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of Sitakunda Railway Police Zahirul Islam said, “We have recovered timber and firewood of railway from the area and nabbed the wrongdoers in this connection. A case will be filed soon.”
Experts said that cutting down trees illegally is an offence. It puts a negative impact to the environment.
“The loss of trees and other vegetation can cause climate change, desertification, soil erosion, fewer crops, flooding, increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and a host of problems for indigenous people,” they added.
Cutting down trees from the government land is punishable. People are unaware of the matter and often cut trees for their own benefit.