Fresh protests erupt over tree felling at Panthakunja Park for expressway ramp

Until a year ago, Panthakunja Park in Karwan Bazar was home to hundreds of age-old leafy trees, providing a habitat for birds, a resting spot for passersby, and a source of fresh air in the polluted heart of Dhaka.

The park has started losing its natural beauty since the Dhaka Elevated Expressway Authority began felling trees earlier this year to build an expressway ramp. Protests at that time had halted tree-cutting, but as authorities resumed their work, protests erupted once again.

The Expressway Authority reportedly cut down several trees today, including a 50-year-old Albizia Richardiana (Gogon Sirish) tree.

In protest, a group of environmentalists and activists staged a sit-in programme and human chain today, demanding the halt of ramp construction work to preserve the park's trees.

When contacted, Abe Humayan Md Shakhawat Aktar, director of the Dhaka Elevated Expressway Project, told TBS that only a small area on one side of the park is being used for the elevated expressway.

"Only one tree was cut today. Most of the trees were cut earlier, but the number is not significant. The city corporation probably cut them," he said.

"A few pillars will be placed in the park for the expressway ramp, the work on which is almost complete. Our aim is to protect the beauty and greenery of the park," Aktar added.

Before the expressway work began, the Dhaka South City Corporation had enclosed the park for years, citing beautification efforts, during which trees were reportedly removed. Interestingly, Dhaka South also protested the construction of the expressway ramp inside the park.

Md Khairul Baker, superintending engineer of the Environment, Climate, and Disaster Management Circle of Dhaka South, told TBS, "They [expressway authority] are cutting trees in the part of the park that will be used for the ramp. The city corporation is not in favour of cutting even a single tree. We want to plant new trees and preserve existing ones."

"The city corporation has done its best to protect the park. The beautification work is almost complete, and it will soon be opened to the public," he added.

Md Rasel, the owner of a local footpath hotel, told TBS, "There were a lot of trees in this park, which provided relief to people in the sizzling days of summer, but now the shade of the trees is gone. What is the benefit of cutting down trees and building big pillars? Is it really necessary to destroy the environment of this area for this project?"

Amirul Rajiv, convener of the Bangladesh Tree Protection Movement, who participated in today's protest, told TBS, "We will continue to hold our sit-in programme to actualise our demand. The destruction of green spaces in Dhaka in the name of development must stop."

"Even during the previous government, the cutting of trees in Panthakunja was halted due to environmentalists' opposition. Now, with the political situation having changed, why should development work be carried out at the cost of destroying the environment?" he asked.

Another environmental activist, Nayon Sarkar, told TBS, "We will continue our sit-in programme throughout the night until our demands are met. No threats or intimidation can stop our protest. We now live in a new Bangladesh, so this is the best time to stop environmental destruction."

Coordinators of the Bangladesh Tree Protection Movement (BTPM) have outlined three primary demands. First, the filling of Hatirjheel Lake for the Elevated Expressway project must be stopped, and existing pillars removed to restore the reservoir's environment and biodiversity.

Second, they demand an immediate halt to tree cutting in Panthakunja Park and the planting of indigenous tree species suited to seasonal variations and the park's boundaries.

Lastly, they call for the cancellation of the expressway project from Karwan Bazar to Palashi and insist that those responsible for the planning, design, and implementation of the project be held accountable.