M Rezaul Islam, Naogaon

In Manda of Naogaon, trees of social forestry have been cut as per the contract through open auction on the basis of transparency.

Family Welfare Association Daryapur (FWAD) and Prasadpur Union Parishad jointly planted Mango and Eucalyptus trees under social forestry on government rural road from Dariapur Government Primary School ground of Prasadpur Union to Mandalpara, Khanpara and Pramana Para for 12 years in 2005 under contract.
According to the agreement, the tree cutting period ends in 2017. Following this, a joint initiative of the Union Parishad, Family Welfare Association and the beneficiaries was published on July 4 and the public auction was held on July 12. 21 tree traders from different areas participated in it. Local businessman Abdus Samad bought the trees for a maximum of Tk 9 lakh 70 thousand.

Prasadpur Union Parishad Chairman Principal Abdul Matin Mondal, former Upazila Vice Chairman Asma Islam, FWAD Chairman KM Lutfar Rahman, Headmaster of the local school, village police and dignitaries of the area were present in the auction.

Accordingly the contractor started felling the trees. KM Lutfar Rahman, president of the Family Welfare Association, alleged that since then, a kuchkri mahal UP chairman of the area has been spreading false news for political gain with baseless information against the leaders of the political party and the family welfare association.

The former upazila vice chairman Asma Islam said, "I have no affiliation." A group has spread false news involving me with nefarious motive to politically defame me and I strongly condemn and protest against it.

Prasadpur Union Parishad Chairman Principal Abdul Matin Mondal said,The 12-year trees were planted in 2005 in a contractual joint venture between Family Welfare Association and Prasadpur Union Parishad.

Due to the expiry of the period, the trees have been sold to social forestry in association with the Union Parishad, Family Welfare Association and the beneficiaries following the terms of the contract. I strongly condemn and protest against the fact that even after cutting down the trees following the policy, a nefarious group is spreading false news for political gain by giving wrong information to the journalists.
In this regard, UNO Akhtar Jahan Sathi said, since the road is under the jurisdiction of the Union Parishad.

At that time, to increase the income of the Union Parishad, a joint initiative of an organization called Family Welfare Association was contracted to plant trees under social forestry. I have been told that they have cut the trees as per the contract.