An investigation has begun in Chuadanga into allegations that poor-quality saplings and bamboo poles were supplied for the prime minister’s tree-planting programme. After media reports on the matter, two separate committees were formed — one by the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) and one by the district administration.
From Sunday (9 August) morning, the agriculture department’s three-member committee began an on-the-spot investigation. On the first day, committee members went to the Chuadanga district DAE office and took the accounts of the four upazila agriculture officers, with visits planned to the four upazila DAE offices and various planting sites — though questions have been raised over how far on-the-spot investigation in four upazilas is possible in a single day. The district administration’s committee also began its on-the-spot investigation in Damurhuda upazila around 3:30pm the same day.
The tree-planting programme was taken up in Chuadanga in the 2025-26 fiscal year under the agricultural rehabilitation support head, to implement the government’s election pledge. Under it, 25,000 saplings were planted in the first phase in various parts of the district, along with distribution of saplings, fertiliser and other materials. Allegations of poor-quality saplings and bamboo poles arose at the very start, and after media reports drew wide discussion, the separate committees were formed by the office of the DAE’s additional director for the Jashore region and by the Chuadanga district administration.
The three-member committee formed by the office of the DAE’s additional director for the Jashore region is headed by Tajul Islam, deputy director of the Magura DAE. Its other members are Kamruzzaman, deputy director of the Jhenaidah DAE, and Abul Hasan, additional deputy director of the Jashore DAE. The Chuadanga district administration’s committee is headed by additional district magistrate B M Tariq-uz-Zaman, with members including the acting Chuadanga forest officer A K M Ata Elahi and the upazila nirbahi officers concerned.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report