Thousands of betel leaf plants, 60 nut trees cut in Barlekha
Moulvibazar Correspondent :
About 3,000 betel trees and 60 nut trees were cut down in four Panjums of Berenga Punji in North Shahbazpur Union of Barlekha Upazila in Moulvibazar recently.
This allegation has been raised against the Alladat Tea Garden authorities.
The affected Khasis claim that they have lost about TK 15 lakh due to the cutting of betel and nut trees. In this incident, the victim and head of Berenga Punjis (Mantri) Almi Pohtam has filed a written complaint at the Barlekha police station, mentioning the names of Alladat Tea Garden manager Siraj Uddin, watchman Noor Uddin and Abdus Samad and leaving 10-12 people anonymous.
Meanwhile, Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Jahangir Hossain, North Shahbazpur UP Chairman Rafiq Uddin Ahmed, Barlekha Indigenous Peoples Development Forum General Secretary Prosenjit Sharma and Publicity Secretary Pilot Marlia visited the spot on Monday afternoon after getting the news of cutting betel and nut trees.
According to the written complaint, about 500 people of 60 Khasi families have been living in Berenga Punji of North Shahbazpur Union of the upazila since the British period. From generation to generation they earn their livelihood by cultivating panjum and betel nut. Last Monday around six o’clock in the morning Alladat tea garden manager Siraj Uddin led by garden watchman Noor Uddin. And some people including Abdus Samad cut down about 3000 betel trees and 60 nut trees in four panjums planted by Khasis on the south side of Berenga Punji. When the Khasis tried to stop the people of tea garden, they tried to attack them.
The people of Berenga Khasi Punji said that the gardeners cut their 3000 betel trees and 60 nut trees. When they saw the matter and tried to stop them, the people of tea garden armed themselves with native weapons and tried to attack them. Due to which they did not protest due to fear. Later, when the people of Punji came running, the people of tea garden left. Meanwhile, they also threatened to burn down the houses of the Khasis and evict them from Berenga Punji. They are afraid of it.
Several attempts were made to contact Siraj Uddin, the manager of Alladat Tea Garden, on the mobile phone at two o’clock on Tuesday to inquire about the complaint, but it was turned off.
Barlekha Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Yardous Hasan said on Tuesday afternoon that he had received a written complaint about the cutting of betel and nut trees in Berenga Punji. The matter will be investigated and legal action will be taken. Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Jahangir Hossain said, “I went to the spot after hearing the news. Several betel trees and some nut trees in Berenga Panjum have been cut by someone. Those involved in the incident should be punished appropriately.
