C T Online Desk: Sarwar Jahan Jewel Mymensingh : There have been allegations of fraudulent sale of a century-old tree in the courtyard of a government primary school in Ishwarganj, Mymensingh. A large part of the tree has already been cut down. In the wake of complaints from local residents, the upazila administration has stopped the work of cutting the tree for the time being.
There is a century-old raintree tree in the corner of the field of Sundailpara Government Primary School No. 67, located in Ward No. 9 of Atharbari Union of the upazila. It has been alleged that a local syndicate is trying to embezzle government property and is trying to cut down the tree by claiming it as its private property. The tree has been in the school’s courtyard since the school was established and has been providing shade to the young students. But on September 28, 2021, a local group tried to include the tree in their name by showing it as private property through a surveyor’s report. When the matter came to light, the current and former students, teachers and locals of the school became vocal in protecting the tree. They filed a written complaint with the Upazila Executive Officer (UNO). After the complaint, the cutting of the tree was temporarily stopped on the orders of the UNO.
Later, on October 25, when the tree was cut again, the cutting of the tree was suspended again due to the intervention of the Deputy Commissioner. On the instructions of the Deputy Commissioner, the Upazila administration worked to determine the boundaries of the school. On October 30, the Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) and the Surveyor went and measured the boundaries of the school land. The survey showed that 80 percent of the centenary reentry tree is located within the school land. At that time, both the Assistant Commissioner (Land) and the Surveyor were of the opinion that since the tree is in government land, it will be considered government property.
Md. Tariqul Islam, a member of the school’s landowner family and a former student, said, “This tree is part of the school’s heritage and history. A syndicate is plotting to embezzle government property. We are demanding a fair investigation and legal action from the administration.”
Tree seller Kawsar Mia said, “All the locals know that this is a government tree. Five years ago, the school’s land was measured and the boundary was drawn. At that time, the tree fell outside the boundary, so the school’s headmaster and chairman asked me to sell the tree. But when the land was measured again, the tree fell on government land. The sirs have come and measured the land, now they will decide.”
The tree buyer, Lokman Hossain, said, “After buying the tree for 2.5 lakh taka, I faced obstacles while cutting it and stopped cutting the tree several times. A few days ago, when I went to the UNO, he and the Primary Education Officer asked me to deposit 83 thousand taka to the school. I deposited 83 thousand taka to the school principal. But since the problem has arisen again, Aceland sir is asking me to go to the upazila on Sunday. Maybe there will be a solution to this on Sunday.”
Sundailpara Government Primary School headmaster Nargis Ara Akand said that the tree was placed outside the boundary wall for ease of movement in the presence of the school committee, local dignitaries and the then Primary Education Officer. Originally, the tree was on the school premises.
Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Salauddin Biswas said, initially, after measuring the school area, it was found that 8 out of 10 percent of the tree falls within the school area. As a result, the tree is owned by the school and will be considered government property. The main problem here has been created by the current chairman. He has created confusion by redefining the area on his own initiative or by someone else. Local residents have also unanimously said that it is a school tree. We have found evidence that the tree is indeed within the school area. He further said that both parties have been asked to come to the upazila office on Sunday and meet the UNO madam in this regard. The UNO madam will review the matter and give a final decision.
