Man who cut trees on Dhaka–Chattogram highway arrested

Police have arrested a man named Azmiri Hossain, 45, for cutting more than 50 trees planted on the median of the Dhaka–Chattogram highway at Beltali in Sadar Dakshin upazila of Cumilla. He was detained from the Shyaoratoli area at around 9:30pm on Saturday, November 15. He was sent to court on Sunday, November 16.

Earlier in the morning, the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) filed a case over the incident. RHD said at least 52 bakul trees on the median across around 500 metres in Beltali had been felled. Several other trees including beliful and palm were also cut. Some trees were cut from the base, some from the middle, and attempts were even made to burn a few.

Local resident Mobarak said Azmiri Hossain had been living for many years in a tin-shed house beside the highway. It is assumed that he cut the trees to make space for vegetable farming.

RHD work assistant Ruhul Amin, after inspecting the scene on Saturday, said, “In front of the Mother and Child Hospital, I found 17 trees cut. Further inquiry revealed more trees had been felled. So a case has been filed.”

RHD said that after the highway was upgraded to four lanes in 2016, various species of trees including flower trees were planted on the median for beautification and improved road safety. More than 50,000 trees including bakul, kanchon, karobi, gandharaj, radhachura, sonalu, krishnachura and kadam were planted across about 143 kilometres from Daudkandi to Chattogram City Gate out of the 192-kilometre stretch. Additionally, over 40,000 trees including olive, akashmoni, neem, mahogany and arjun were planted along the sides of the highway.

Expressing anger over the incident, RHD Executive Engineer Golam Mostafa said the tree-cutting at Beltali is extremely serious. A case has been filed, and police are taking necessary action.

Sadar Dakshin Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Selim said the case was recorded based on RHD’s complaint, and the lone accused Azmiri has been arrested and sent to court.