Felling 30 palm trees: HC suspends UP chairman, member

30 palm trees have been felled in Kalapara to repair LGED road

Patuakhali: The High Court ordered the temporary suspension of Mohipur UP Chairman Md. Fazlu Gazi and UP member Md. Sobahan Howladar in connection with the cutting of 30 palm trees for road renovation in Patuakhali's Kalapara. In the same order, LGED Kalapara Upazila Engineer has been ordered to appear in court on May 30 to explain the incident. Yesterday Thursday (May 18) the High Court bench consisting of Justice Abu Taher Md. Saifur Rahman and Justice AKM Rabiul Hasan gave this order. The court gave this order at the end of the hearing after the report of the UNO and the agriculture officer was submitted on the incident of palm tree cutting.In the court order, the local government ministry has been directed to keep the UP chairman, member suspended until the relevant rule is passed. Steps must be taken to implement the order within seven days of receiving this order.

Chairman Fazlu Gazi

Earlier, the High Court summoned the accused Mahipur UP Chairman and the concerned UP member on May 18, after the media published the news titled '30 palm trees uprooted for road reform', forming two separate investigation committees of the district administration and LGED to investigate the incident. And the court asked the UNO and the agriculture officer to report on the matter. The High Court Bench of Justice Abu Taher Md. Saifur Rahman and Justice AKM Rabiul Hasan gave this order after taking note of the report published in the media.

LGED's Kalapara Upazila Engineer Faisal Bari Purn said that under the Climate Resilient Rural Infrastructure (CRRIP) project, the contractor of 600 meters long and 16 feet wide earthworks was contracted by local women workers president Mst. Rozina and secretary Mst. Nurunnahar Begum at a cost of 9 lakh 75 thousand taka in Najibpur village of Mohipur union. On April 30, a letter has been sent to the officers regarding the withdrawal of their veku as they started working with veku during the Eid holiday without informing the office. After knowing the incident of palm tree cutting, a 3-member investigation committee was formed under the leadership of Sub-Assistant Engineer Abul Hossain on May 2. A recommendation letter was sent to the concerned project director for the cancellation of the contractor's contract after finding out the fact of cutting down the palm trees along the road without any approval and working with shovels instead of spades.

Kalapara UNO Md. Jahangir Hossain said, "According to the instructions of the high court, I and the agricultural officer have filed a report of this incident in the court. The Hon'ble Court, after hearing the report, ordered the suspension of the member pending the disposal of the rule. Next steps will be taken after receiving the copy of the court order. - Gofran Biswas Palash