Dhaka moots stringent law for illegal tree felling

DHAKA - Back from the Copenhagen climate summit, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has mooted a new law that would deny bail to people responsible for rampant tree felling.

The prime minister instructed authorities concerned to include a non-bailable section in the law that must also provide for prior permission before taking action against the offenders.

She also suggested Tuesday that a provision be kept for punishing not only the offenders but also the people who buy or use those trees.

Hasina, who pleaded for special funds for her country at Copenhagen, has acted after several incidents of illegal tree-felling came to light in the last two months, some of them involving influential people including members of her Awami League.

Talking to The Daily Star, State Minister for Forest and Environment Hasan Mahmud said the government is determined to take tough actions against those who are felling trees and even if ruling-party people were involved, they would not be spared.

Chief of the all-party parliamentary group on climate change and environment Saber Hossain Chowdhury said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s commitment to protect Bangladesh’s environment would be made clear through the new law.