JU, CU students protest decision of tree felling

Students of Jahangirnagar University (JU) and Chittagong Univerity (CU) yesterday protested the governemrnt decision of felling 2,700 trees, many of those century-old, along the Jessore-Benapole highway for widening of the road. 

Under the banner of ‘Biggan Andolon Mancha’, JU students formed a human chain on the central Shaheed Minar premises in the morning.

Muhammad Dider, an organiser of JU unit of the Mancha, said, “The road is a historical part of the Liberation War.”

The environment and biodiversity will be seriously affected, if such a large number of trees are felled down, he added.

Meanwhile, CU students under the same banner formed a human chain before the Chittagong University Central Students' Union building demanding immediate cancellation of the decision that was taken on January 6.

If the government really wants to expand the road, they can reclaim the 50-feet land of roads and highways division which is under illegal occupation, they added.