'If you have to be hostile, be with me, not with my plants'

‘The house is in my place, the trees as well. I have raised the trees with care like my own children. If you have to be hostile, be hostile to me. But why be hostile to trees?’ 60-year-old Asia Begum asked the question with watery eyes. On Friday (July 10) afternoon, she expressed her frustration and helplessness while standing next to the roots of a cut tree in her garden in Nalkhola village of Katakhali police station, Rajshahi.

Asia Begum alleged that due to a long-standing dispute over the boundaries of the land, the opponent had cut down nine mahogany trees and a mango tree in her garden. She claimed that the incident, which took place around 5 am, caused a loss of about Tk200,000 lakh. She has filed a written complaint with Katakhali police station, naming eight people including Shahidul Islam in this incident.

The complaint states that Asia Begum had bought the land in Nalkhola mouza about 26 years ago. Since then, the family has been occupying the land. Over the years, she has planted various species of trees there and established a small garden. However, after purchasing the land, disputes began with some close relatives over the boundaries of the land.

Several local arbitration meetings have been held to resolve the dispute. The last time, on June 24, a compromise was reached between the two parties on a few conditions in the presence of local dignitaries, but Asia Begum claims that the other party was not ready to compromise.

The old woman's family said that the land had been measured at least 10 times by the local officials. Each time, the disputed part fell within their land. Even the roots of the cut trees are within their land. Even after that, they were pressured and threatened to cut the trees for a long time.

Asia Begum's son Abdur Rashid said that they planted the trees after purchasing the land. He alleged that about six feet of their land was occupied by using political influence and a house was built. Although initiatives were recently taken to resolve the dispute, they were pressured to cut the trees before a fair measurement was completed. Now, 13 more trees on the other side of the garden are being threatened to be cut.

This has left the family in extreme insecurity.

Asia Begum said that there was no male member in the house at the time of the incident. Her two sons were in their business in the Ashrafer Mor area, while her husband Azibar Rahman had gone to the field to cut grass for the cows. She alleged that 10 to 12 outside workers were brought in to cut the trees on this occasion. When she tried to stop them, she was intimidated and threatened with death. The charge sheet also mentions the names of two local women as witnesses to the incident.

However, the accused Shahidul Islam has denied the charges. He claims that he has no involvement in the tree cutting incident. He said, 'I do not know anything about the tree cutting incident. The charges against me are not true. The real incident will come out if the police investigate.'

In this regard, Katakhali Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Sumon Kaderi said that the police visited the scene after receiving a written complaint. Land ownership documents, statements of witnesses and who is involved in the tree cutting incident are being verified. If the allegations are found to be true, action will be taken against those concerned according to the law.