JHENIDAH, Sept 22: Asia's one of the largest 300-year-old banyan trees under Kaliganj Upazila in Jhenidah is on verge of destruction due to negligence by the authorities concerned.
The original tree generated in the mud wall of a local porter of Shan's lineage at Bethuli (Mollikpur) village of Maliyat union under Kaligonj Upazila in Jhenidah, according to Md. Abdur Razzak (52) of the village.
Despite demise of the original tree, it is located on nearly 2.08 acres of land through 45 different new trees. Its 345 aerial roots have entered into the soil, and 38 roots are hanging there.
Since 2009 Social Forestry Circle, Jessore, has been conducting management of the trees.
SM Amirul Islam, a medical practitioner, Bethuli bazaar said hundreds of devotees from Hindu community worship at the altar which has been set within the enclosure of the trees. Muslim men and women also vow to give hens and other things to the banyan trees for fulfilment of their wishes, he added.
While visiting the Mollikpur banyan trees, it was found that both branches and aerial roots of the trees are fast spreading to the east and south directions. However, due to a paved road of Roads and Highways Department (RHD) there, branches of newly grown trees are being broken by the strikes of the vehicles plying the route.
Local people claim that there is none employed by the forestry department at the site to take care of the trees.
Locals want that the banyan trees premises be declared a national heritage site.
They also demand for earth filling and building of a comprehensive boundary wall, making umbrellas and benches for visitors to sit at the site within the shortest possible time.
District Forest Officer (DFO), of Jessore Md. Jahurul Islam told the FE, "A project worth Tk 3.7 million has been taken up for development of infrastructure. Work will be started by the end of the year."
When asked, DFO also told this correspondent that on completion of the project, they will think over employing permanent caretaker there and the experts will examine the proposal to acquire the RHD road and shift it through the nearby bazaar.
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