Fourteen eminent citizens on Thursday urged authorities concerned to construct the Rajshahi Central Shaheed Minar without cutting the centuries-old trees at the construction site.
They sent a letter to the secretaries of environment, forests and climate change ministry, local government division, the mayor of Rajshahi City Corporation, and the chairman of Rajshahi zila parishad.
In the letter, they stated that the Rajshahi zila parishad planned to cut down more than ten century-old trees to construct the central Shaheed Minar in the Rajarhata area of Rajshahi city.
鈥楾hese trees are associated with the history and tradition of Rajshahi and serve as a relief shelter for city dwellers, affected by extreme heat. They play a crucial role in the environment, biodiversity, and people鈥檚 lives. Constructing the Shaheed Minar, while preserving these trees, will be a logical initiative to protect biodiversity,鈥� they said.
Referring to a study by professor TM Das of Calcutta University, they highlighted that a tree living for 50 years can produce oxygen worth $31,250, control air pollution worth $62,000, control soil erosion and increase soil fertility worth $31,250, reuse water worth $37,500, and provide habitat for animals worth $31,250.
They also mentioned that article 18(a) of the Constitution pledges to ensure the safety of life, nature, and the environment.
鈥楾herefore, any development activities must include environmental protection. Under section 23 of the wildlife (preservation and security) act-2012, the government can declare these trees as habitats of various birds and national heritage,鈥� they continued.
鈥榃e urge the authorities to abandon all initiatives to cut these centuries-old trees and construct the Shaheed Minar, while preserving them. We also request that these be declared national heritage trees,鈥� they added.
Signatories to the statement included Manabadhikar Songskriti Foundation founding president Sultana Kamal, Nijera Kori coordinator Khushi Kabir, Association for Land Reform and Development executive director Shamsul Huda, Transparency International Bangladesh executive director Iftekharuzzaman, Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association chief executive Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan general secretary Alamgir Kabir, Bangladesh Institute of Planners president Adil Mohammed Khan, Stamford University Bangladesh environmental sciences faculty dean professor Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumdar, and river and environment researcher Mahbub Siddiqui.
