MOULOVIBAZAR, Bangladesh (UCAN) -- Catholic and human rights activists are opposing a court verdict allowing timber traders to cut thousands of trees in two tea plantations, saying this endangers tribal people’s livelihoods. A Feb. 22 high court ruling had allowed M/S Selim Timber & Traders, a local company, to cut down and sell 3,550 trees in two betel-leaf plantations in the southeastern Sylhet region. Activists recently held press conferences and rallies to protest the verdict. On April 10, they also visited the two affected Khasia villages and assured people of their assistance and support. The activists came from the Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), an environment protection forum; Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples’ Forum (BIPF), an ecumenical forum of tribal peoples; Hotline Bangladesh, a Church-based rights organization; and St. Joseph’s Parish. The timber traders “have felled 1,576 more trees than they were allowed” and destroyed more than 7,000 betel-leaf plants, said Ferli Surong, 45, the Catholic headman of one of the villages. “We’ll not be able recover the huge loss even in 20 years.” The felling of trees here has been going on since June 2008 when the forest and environment ministry ordered the cutting and selling of 4,000 old trees. However, critics say that most of the trees destroyed were in fact healthy and were still acting as supports for betel-leaf cultivation. According to local sources, a 10.5 million taka (US$150,000) contract had been negotiated between authorities and traders. A case was filed last year against the decision to cut trees but in February this year, the high court ruled in favor of the authorities and traders and allowed the cutting down of 3,550 trees. Khasia people and right activists claim the verdict was politically influenced.
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