Allegations of felling trees of Raipur Multipurpose High School for sale have surfaced against school managing committee president Md Jahangir Alam and headmaster Md Saidur Rahman in Jibannagar upazila.
After receiving such information, Jibannagar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Hasina Momtaz seized the felled trees and kept the logs of Mahogany trees in the custody of Raipur Union Parishad Chairman Mirza Tahazzat Hossain.
The UNO also issued a show-cause notice to the school managing committee president, asking him to reply within five working days.
Locals alleged that there were 37 Mahogany trees on the own land of Raipur Multipurpose High School in Jibannagar Upazila of the district. The trees were felled during Eid holiday as the school managing committee president and headmaster allegedly wanted to sell the trees.
Locals said they also tried to resist tree felling just three days before the Eid but their attempts went in vain.
A villager, wishing not to be named, said the trees were felled illegally for sale.
Headmaster Md Saidur Rahman said a resolution has been made regarding cutting trees.
However, the headmaster could not say anything about following formal procedure for cutting school trees.
School managing committee president Md Jahangir Alam also echoed the same.
Jibannagar UNO Hasina Momtaz, in this regard, said the school managing committee needs to pass a resolution first mentioning the reason for cutting trees at a non-government high school and then the headmaster needs to make an application to the UNO. After getting approval of the upazila committee, the trees will be sold floating tender or at auction. But this procedure has not been followed there, she said.
