CHATTOGRAM, Apr 02: Local people are at odds with the Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) over its tree-felling plan for construction of ramps of Chattogram Elevated Expressway.
The agitated people held a procession and rally on Monday and Tuesday in the Central Railway Building area of the port city in protest against the CDA plan for felling trees.
The civil-society leaders have threatened to intensify the protests if the CDA does not backtrack on its decision to fell 46 century-old trees and level hill slopes from Tiger Pass to the CRB area.
They have also warned that the people of Chattogram will launch movement even in Ramadan. According to CDA officials, no 50-year-old tree will be cut for construction of the ramp. Some 46 trees which ages are from 5-7 years to 20 years will be cut.
After the construction of the ramp, at least one thousand trees will be planted in the empty space next to it, they said.
Engineer Abdur Rashid, president of the Institute of Engineers, Chittagong, says the CDA has no right to cut the trees and damage the environment by the name of development.
Environment activist Professor Dr Idris Ali says, "The people of Chattogram will save the century-old trees and the environment of CRB area at any cost. They will never allow to fell the trees."
Dr Mahfuzur Rahman, freedom fighter and researcher on the liberation war, says: "If the CDA wants to build a ramp, there are a plenty of places. Why should we have to cut down trees? "
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