The High Court (HC) yesterday directed the government to maintain status quo on the decision of felling century-old trees on the Jessore-Benapole Highway, popularly known as Jessore road, for six months. The HC bench came up with the order in the wake of protests against the government decision to cut down the trees under a project to upgrade Jessore-Benapole and Jessore-Khulna highways into four lanes. The HC bench also asked the government to explain why it should not be directed to construct the four-lane road on the highway protecting thousands of trees on both the sides. Secretaries to the bridges division and environment, and the deputy commissioner and the superintendent of police in Jessore have been made respondents to reply to the…

The Jinuo people were the last ethnic minority recognized by the Chinese government. They mainly live…