Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) is implementing a development project by cutting roadside trees on Mohakhali-Gulshan Road putting the risk of environmental disaster.

DNCC has recently cut hundreds of trees on the median strip of Mohakhali-Gulshan Road to expand its island.    

Locals said DNCC has already cut more than 100 trees from Mohakhali Amtali to Gulshan-1. More trees will be fallen in the coming days for the project, they added.

According to Google Street View and locals, there were almost 300 trees on the median strip of Mohakhali-Gulshan Road before cutting trees.

Locals alleged that maximum trees are being cut at night and are being removed also at night. This is in direct contrast to DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam's recent pledge to plant two lakh trees.

On May 3, Atiqul Islam announced plans to plant two lakh trees in Dhaka to reduce the temperature in the city. 

In his speech, the mayor said that Dhaka city temperature is increasing continuously. As a result of the fire, the lives and livelihood of the people of the city are under threat. Human performance is decreasing, health is at risk. In this situation, a Chief Heat Officer (CHO) has been appointed for DNCC who will undertake various programmes to reduce the temperature in the city in collaboration with Arshot-Rock.

He also sought help and cooperation from the city dwellers in this regard.

Rafiqul Islam, a resident of Mohakhali said, “We thought the situation will be changed after the tree plantation announcement by the mayor. Not it seems this was only speech.”  

The incident seems two city corporations in Dhaka cannot initiate a development project without felling down trees although DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam recently pledged to plant two lakh trees in his city to maintain environmental balance, said another resident Musa Ahmed.

According to the forest department, DNCC's tree-cutting also violates existing laws. It is felling down trees without obtaining the necessary permission from the forest department.

Wishing anonymity, an official of the forest department said DNCC had not submitted any application and they didn’t give any permission to the organization to cut trees.

Eminent citizens and locals said the projects concerned should change their attitude to stop felling trees for development projects.

After talking with the designers of the project, environment development worker Jamil said construction of a median strip is possible without cutting trees.

Jony Enterprise is constructing the development project. Contacted, its managing director Dilip claimed they didn’t cut any trees for the project. They only removed the trees which are expired.

Denying the allegation DNCC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Selim Reza said the city corporation is against cutting trees. A few trees might have been taken away due to the risks while working on the median strip.

“DNCC has a plan to plant two lakh trees. We have already selected some roads including this Mohakhali-Gulshan Road (Bir Uttam AK Khandakar Road). We have taken the initiative for the greenery of this road. Hope beautification work will start soon. This road will be full of green inshallah.”

According to DNCC, it spent nearly Tk 22 crore on development works under the "Traffic Infrastructure Development and Road Safety" project. The project was extended until June 30 of the current year.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, chief executive of the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) said it is not acceptable to construct road median strips by cutting trees. It is also a waste of money.

According to BUET, Dhaka city needs 20 per cent forest while it has around 8 per cent currently. 

Bangladesh Nature Conservation Alliance (BNCA) member secretary Anwarul Haque said before cutting and planting trees in Dhaka, city corporations should consult with the botanists.

Earlier, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) cut hundreds of trees on road dividers of Sat Masjid road near Abahani playground in Dhanmondi despite criticism from locals, students, environmentalists, social workers, researchers, teachers, and artists.

Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul