Faisal Azam Apu, Chapainawabganj: Alhaj Mohsin Ali, chairman of Ranihati Union Parishad No. 6 of Chapainawabganj Sadar Upazila, has been accused of cutting down a 100-year-old government banyan tree. It is learned that this tree cutting festival was attended by Chairman Alhaj Mohsin Ali and some of his supportive UP members. Chairman Alhaj Mohsin Ali has sold this 100-year-old banyan tree to his relatives for only TK. 22,000 without any tender, regardless of any rules and regulations. On the spot, on Saturday (August 7), this large banyan tree (paikargachha) was seen being cut down in public at Fultala (Machpatti) of Ramchandrapurhat in Ranihati Union. Tota, the nephew of Alhaj Mohsin Ali Chairman, was seen taking care of the tree cutting.
With whose permission are you cutting down government trees? When asked, Tota said the chairman is my uncle; I bought this tree from him for TK. 22,000. Tell the chairman what to say, he declined to comment further.
In this regard, how much did Alhaj Mohsin Ali sell the tree for and how did he sell it without tender? When asked, he said, "I have sold the trees with the permission of Mr.DC." Under the LGRD, 3 tin sheds will be constructed for the convenience of the people coming to the market, so I have been forced to cut down the trees. However, no exact truth was found in favor of this answer.
Why is the price of a 100-year-old banyan tree only TK. 22,000 and does it has the authority to sell the tree without tender through nepotism? In response to such a question, the chairman did not give any good answer and offered to manage this reporter and requested not to publish the news. He asked the representative to meet Nasim Member, a local member of Ward No. 6 of the union.
Regarding the verbal consent, Deputy Commissioner AZM Nurul Haque said on his mobile phone, for what purpose did Mohsin Chairman cut down the tree and sell it in the public interest? It is also a matter of looking at it for self-interest and whether the money sold has been deposited in the government treasury. Asked if the chairman had the authority to arbitrarily sell or cut down large banyan trees without tender, he said he had no authority. I`ll asked to talk to DDLG about the matter.
DDLG could not be reached for comment as it was not received on mobile phone several times.
In this regard, Nasim Member said, I am not involved in selling trees. However, the chairman verbally informed me that it was my ward, but I did not agree to sell or cut down the trees. He further said that the chairman was looking at his age and requested not to tarnish his image by publishing news.
On the other hand, Ward No. 4 member Nurul Islam said that the chairman takes these immoral and reckless decisions with some members. He also said that he does not coordinate or consult with all the members. Union Awami League leader Mosaddek Hossain Sampul Mia said Alhaj Mohsin Ali has always taken such a nti-people decisions.
This harms the common man. He said the matter needs to be brought to justice subject to a proper investigation.
On condition of anonymity, several other local educationists, businessmen and a former chairman said it was a daily affair of Mohsin Ali`s chairman, who had earlier sold four government mahogany trees along the Bahram-Hattapara road and a few trees along the Yokhira-pond side of the market. GAnd in its continuation, in the pride of power, this hundred-year-old banyan tree (paikaragacha) was cut down at Fultala in Ramchandrapurhat.
In this regard, Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Nazmul Islam Sarkar said on his mobile phone, no one has complained to me about the sale or cutting of 100-year-old banyan tree. Honestly the chairman has shown extreme arrogance if he has sold the trees in this way. He added that the chairman could not sell the 100-year-old tree for only Tk 22,000. Has committed a heinous crime of selling and cutting, and departmental legal action will be taken against the chairman for this. No discount will be given. He also urged the reporter to cooperate with the news and detailed information.
