Green coastal enclosure of Sitakundo is treeless

Mohammad Saiful Islam

Bangladesh: Almost 2000 trees of 1 kilometer coastal area of the middle of Pakka mosque and Jor Amtol of Sitakundo Upozila in Chittagong have been cut. This destruction of trees occurred at November 29, 2009 (Sunday). It took place from 8pm to 11 pm at night. For this destruction of trees, almost 125 acres of green coastal enclosure has become tree less. Besides, at July 3, 2009, almost 20000 trees of 40 acres of coastal area were cut in Middle Sonaisori beside this area.

According to local people and Forest Division, almost 400 people suddenly went to Jor Amtol and started cutting tree on Sunday at 8 pm. They cut all the trees of almost 20 acres coastal area in 11 pm. They were offered to take Tk.1000 and portion of tree for cutting each tree. Thus, poor people were motivated to cut trees.

Forest Division complains that they informed police in evening about the probability of cutting trees. But no initiative was taken. Later, police went there at 11 pm after the call of Forest and Environment Protimonti, Hasan Mahmud. But, the area became tree less before the reaching of police.

Forest division did this tree plantation of Kaora tree to prepare green coastal enclosure on 125 acres of land after1989 to protect the coastal area from natural disaster like storm, cyclone etc. The practice of cutting trees regularly will bring the negative impact of climate change more dangerously.