The High Court yesterday said 10 trees must be planted for every tree cut.

"In public interest, a few trees can be felled after receiving permission from the authorities. But new trees must be planted to substitute the felled ones. Trees cannot be cut in wholesale in any situation," said the HC bench of Justice Abu Taher Md Saifur Rahman and Justice AKM Rabiul Hassan.

The bench made the statement while hearing a suomoto rule over the incident of felling 30 palm trees Patuakhali's Kolapara for constructing a road.

The court said this to Md Mamunur Rashid, project director of Climate Tolerance Rural Infrastructure who appeared before the bench in compliance with its earlier directive.