Sunamganj Road Tree Felling Sparks Protests
Authorities have begun cutting down approximately 4,500 trees along a 19-kilometer stretch of the Sunamganj-Sachna road, drawing swift protests from local residents and environmental activists. Demonstrators have demanded an immediate halt to the logging operations within 24 hours.
A contentious tree-felling operation has commenced along the Sunamganj-Sachna road, located in Sunamganj, targeting approximately 4,500 trees situated across a nearly 19-kilometer area. The work officially began on Saturday, triggering immediate concern and resistance from the surrounding community and local environmental advocates who rely on the natural canopy for shade and environmental balance.
Although the roadway itself falls under the jurisdiction of the Roads and Highways Department (সড়ক ও জনপথ বিভাগ বা সওজ), the actual felling of the timber is being carried out by the Forest Department (বন বিভাগ). This jurisdiction has added a layer of complexity to the unfolding situation, as local stakeholders question the necessity and administrative backing of the current logging activities along the regional transport route.
The destruction of the roadside flora has deeply affected local residents who have personal connections to the greenery. Manik Mia, a local resident, voiced his anguish regarding a specific tree that he had nurtured personally over the years. According to Mia, even though the land is government property, he planted the blackberry tree himself to provide shade for local students and pedestrians, noting that people would gather fruit during the harvesting season. Despite locals coming together to protest and block the removal, workers still managed to cut down two trees.
In response to the ongoing timber extraction, local residents and environmental campaigners organized a human chain protest to voice their collective outrage. The demonstration served as a platform to condemn the widespread clearing of the regional landscape. During the protest, participants issued a stern warning to the authorities, demanding that all tree-cutting activities must cease within the next twenty-four hours.
Should the administration fail to comply with this 24-hour ultimatum and allow the logging to continue, the protesters have threatened to escalate their actions. Organizers announced that they will march to blockade the local forest office to hold officials accountable for the environmental loss along the Sunamganj-Sachna road corridor.
