The Natore forest department cut down 266 roadside trees in the Sadar upazila allegedly flouting rules.

Some 400 trees were planted 13 years ago by the road from Burirbattola to Ramnagar under a social forest project, a joint initiative by the department and Tebaria Union Parishad, said the union chairman, Golam Sarwar. 

Local people helped plant the trees and took care of them since then.

According to the rules, a tender should have been floated for the felling of the trees after the expiry of the contract between stakeholders.

However, the forest department sold 266 trees at Tk 2.5 lakh without tender, Sarwar said, adding that the amount should be divided between the department, union parishad and those who had looked after them.

Receiving complaints of irregularities, the local administration stopped the tree cutting.

Sarwar claimed that there was some corruption since the trees were sold at a lower price. 

Abu Abdullah, forest officer in Natore, said the authorities had followed all the rules before cutting down the trees.

Nairuzzaman Khan, upazila nirbahi officer of the Sadar upazila parishad, said he had visited the place and that stern action would be taken against anyone if found guilty of corruption.