Sheikh Belayet Hossain Selim, senior joint convener of the municipal BNP in Shahrasti, Chandpur, has deposited Tk 8,300 into the municipality’s fund to cover the value of government-owned trees, after an investigation confirmed allegations that he cut them from a roadside without permission.
Shahrasti Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) and municipal administrator Monira Khatun confirmed the matter Tuesday afternoon.
According to inquiries, BNP leader Sheikh Belayet Hossain Selim was accused of cutting down several trees from beside a road in front of the Assistant Commissioner (Land) office in the Sahapur area of Shahrasti municipality during the recent Eid al-Adha holidays. The matter was reported in various media outlets.
The upazila administration subsequently assigned the upazila forest officer to investigate. After the investigation confirmed the trees had been cut without permission, an order was issued for payment of the trees’ value. In response, Sheikh Belayet Hossain Selim deposited Tk 8,300 into the Shahrasti municipality’s fund.
Shahrasti UNO and municipal administrator Monira Khatun said: “Since the tree-cutting was confirmed, the accused individual has deposited Tk 8,300 into the municipality’s fund.”
Sheikh Belayet Hossain Selim had earlier denied the allegation, claiming he had leased the road from the municipality and planted saplings there, which he said were later donated to a mosque. He had claimed the mosque authorities were the ones who subsequently cut down the trees.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report