The country has suffered a loss of over Tk 40 billion due to rampant felling of trees by BNP-Jamaat activists during their blockade, shutdown and other agitation programmes, said Environment and Forests Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Tuesday.
“The felling trees by BNP-Jamaat men caused a loss of Tk 40 billion and its ecological loss will be over Tk 100 billion,” he told UNB at his office.
About the government action to bring those involved in countrywide tree logging under trial, Hasan Mahmud said the authorities concerned filed cases against them.
“As per law, one has to serve 2-5 years’ jail for cutting trees. The people who were and are involved in tree felling will be brought to justice soon. They must be punished,” he said.
The minister said the government will start planting saplings in the next season to recover the lost forest areas due to the destruction by BNP-Jamaat men.
On December 26 last, Poribesh Bachao Andolon, an environmental organisation, disclosed the findings of its assessment on countrywide recent felling trees showing that Bangladesh suffered a loss of over Tk 100 billion due to felling of trees by political activists during blockade, shutdown and other agitation programmes.
Source: UNB Connect
