The weaver bird, locally known as babui pakhi, is classified as an endangered species. The 70-year-old man who cut the tree has been arrested. - The Daily Star/ANN
DHAKA: A 70-year-old man has been arrested for illegally cutting down a palm tree planted on government land in Jhalakathi, which had more than a hundred nests of weaver birds, leading to the deaths of numerous hatchlings.
The Detective Branch (DB) of police arrested Mobarak Ali Fakir from Guaton village of Jhalakathi’s Sadar upazila on Sunday (June 29), confirmed DB Officer-in-Charge Md Selim Uddin.
The incident sparked widespread outrage in the area after it was discovered that the palm tree — planted beside a road on government land — hosted more than a hundred nests of the endangered weaver bird, locally known as babui pakhi. The tree was felled, destroying the nests and killing around 96 chicks and eggs, said officials.
Following the incident, Masudur Rahman, a union parishad member of Shekherhat union, filed a case with Jhalakathi Sadar Police Station on June 29. Mobarak Ali was arrested shortly afterward, the DB said.
OC Moniruzzaman of Jhalakathi Sadar Police Station said that in addition to the UP member’s complaint, the district’s Forest Officer Md Arifur Rahman also filed a case in court under the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act, 2012.
“The matter is being taken seriously,” the OC added.
Forest Officer Arifur Rahman confirmed that a court case had been filed against Mobarak Ali Fakir and two others for destroying 96 chicks and numerous eggs, violating the country’s wildlife protection law.
Local resident Mostafa alleged that Mobarak Ali sold the palm tree to two individuals — Farid Hossain and Mizanur Rahman — despite it being on government land.
On June 27, Mizanur hired workers to fell the tree. Although several local youths attempted to stop the act, their pleas were ignored, and the tree was cut down by evening.
“The destruction of such a large number of birds and nests is inhuman. We demand justice for this cruelty against nature,” Mostafa said.
Police confirmed that although the tree was planted on government land, Mobarak illegally sold it, prompting a case against him for illegally selling public property.
Environmental organisations have expressed strong condemnation of the incident. Lincoln Bayen, divisional coordinator of Bela (Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association) in Barishal, demanded exemplary punishment for those involved.
“They didn’t just cut down a tree; they destroyed a vital habitat and took the lives of over a hundred birds. This is a serious act of environmental destruction and must be dealt with accordingly,” Bayen said. - The Daily Star/ANN
