Miscreants have cut down 200 papaya trees belonging to Anwar Hossain, a poor farmer in Kaunia, Rangpur. The farmer claims his loss is more than Tk 5 lakh.

The incident happened some time during the night following Thursday (8 May) in the Kutirpar area of Shahidbagh union in the upazila. Anwar Hossain is the son of Abu Bakkar Siddique of the Lichu Bagan area of the union.

Anwar Hossain said that four years ago he leased one acre of land, including land belonging to the local Jame mosque, for Tk 4,500 a year and has been growing various crops on it. On 24 decimals of this he planted 250 papaya saplings. The papayas were growing on the rows of trees, and he had been hoping to sell them soon to pay his NGO loan instalments and his children's school costs.

He said the miscreants had shattered his dreams by cutting down around 200 of the trees, and he claims his loss at about Tk 5 lakh.

At the scene, 200 cut papaya trees were seen lying on the ground. In a few days the papayas on them would have been ready for sale. Local people said Anwar Hossain has long made his living by leasing land in the area and growing various fruits and crops.

Farooq Hossain, panel chairman of the Shahidbagh union parishad, said: "People can have enmity with people. But what kind of enmity is this with trees? I demand that those who did this wrong be identified, brought to justice and given exemplary punishment, so that no one dares do such a thing in future."

Upazila agriculture officer Tania Akter said: "I have heard about the incident. After visiting the site and talking to my superiors, steps will be taken to see how he can be brought under the incentive programme."

Kaunia police station officer-in-charge (OC) Abdul Latif Shah said the site had been visited on the basis of a written complaint, and legal action would be taken subject to investigation.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.