TBM Report
In a significant victory for environmental activists, the Jhalakathi district administration has ordered an immediate halt to the felling of nearly 2,000 trees along the Gabkhan River. The decision came after contractors had already cleared 120 valuable mature trees as part of a controversial embankment reinforcement project. The suspension followed a formal complaint by local activists and legal intervention citing recent High Court rulings that prohibit the destruction of social forestry without expert committee approval.
The project, initiated by the Water Development Board (WDB) and executed by the Forest Department, aimed to clear a four-kilometer stretch from Gabkhan Bazar to Baruhat. Activists argued that the felling was unnecessary, as there was ample space along the riverbank for the planned installation of concrete blocks without disturbing the decades-old greenery. The trees served as a vital sanctuary for over a hundred bird species and rare reptiles, making the area an ecological hotspot.
Following the intervention of Senior Advocate Manzil Murshid, Chairman of Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB), District Commissioner Md. Momin Uddin instructed the Forest Department to cease all operations. Advocate Murshid highlighted that a recent High Court verdict mandates strict environmental assessments before any large-scale tree removal. Consequently, the district administration has pledged to review the project’s feasibility in upcoming committee meetings, ensuring legal compliance.
While the temporary stay provides a breather for Jhalakathi’s environment, local advocates are demanding a permanent cancellation of the tree-felling directive. The Forest Department, initially agreeing to the project under pressure from WDB, has now confirmed that no further cutting will occur without explicit orders. This case serves as a critical reminder that development projects must harmonize with ecological preservation and adhere to the nation’s legal framework.
