A petition signed by 37 eminent personalities today demanded an end to the chopping down of trees in the capital.

The petition was sent to Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh protesting the felling of trees on Satmasjid Road.

After a press conference at National Press Club, Chief Executive of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela) Syeda Rizwana Hasan, human rights activist Shirin Haque, activist and researcher Pavel Partha, coordinator of Sat Masjid Road Tree Protection Movement Amirul Rajiv and others submitted the petition to the mayor's office.

Photo: Star

In the petition, they urged the mayor to plant trees along the street instead of chopping them down.

Assistant Personal Secretary to Mayor Nasirul Hasan Shojib received the petition on behalf of the mayor.

Read more

Saat Masjid Road: More trees felled in name of development

In the press conference, Sultana Kamal, president of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa), said, "Since the 1960s, the greenery of Dhaka become increasingly gray with the expansion of the capital. We are now suffering the adverse effects of urbanisation that has taken place by brutally cutting down the trees. High noise pollution, severe air pollution, and unbearable temperatures have made the capital uninhabitable."

"Development by destroying nature does not bring benefits to the people," she said.

Rasheda K Choudhury, executive director of Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE), said, "There should be protest and resistance against the destruction of nature in the name of development. Development plan should reflect the opinion of people."

Syeda Rizwana Hasan said, "It is unprecedented to ignore the fact that everyone needs trees to protect the capital. The city administration did not care about the opinion of the city residents. They are showing us the development model of Singapore, but they don't adopt Singapore's environmental conservation model."

Cultural personality Mamunur Rashid said, "No one can stop the consequences of environmental disaster if trees are uprooted. But the attitude of the political class against deforestation disturbs us. Due to the narrow cultural outlook, desertification is going on by cutting down trees and filling up wetlands."

Urban Planner Adil Mohammed Khan also addressed the press conference moderated by Amirul Rajiv.