Rajshahi University (RU) authorities have been chopping off ages-old trees on the campus on the pretext of infrastructure development and beautification. Protests by teachers and students alike have not been able to stop the destruction of the green cover. Around 300 trees have been cut on the campus in three years. Besides, old trees are dying due to a weak taproot and a lack of oxygen in the soil.

Sources said that in a tender issued on February 12 and signed by the agricultural project officer, 15 old trees, including a mango tree, on the campus were sold to a local resident named Milon. Milon reportedly paid Tk. 115,000 to the university’s Agrani Bank account the next day.

On February 22, some workers, led by Milon’s employees Rafiqul Islam and Kamal, were seen cutting a 60-year-old mango tree in front of the varsity’s central cafeteria.

Rafiqul told The Independent that they would cut 14 more trees on the campus. Students have expressed concern on social media over the rampant felling of trees.

Director of the RU Agriculture Project, Emran Ali, said the trees are being felled following the decision of the university’s beautification committee. Other saplings will be planted later in such empty space.

Asked whether any trees are planted at all, Emran Ali claimed 2,500 trees are planted each year.

Yet, the evergreen Motihar campus has started turning grey. Although this campus has been announced as a bird sanctuary, the number of birds’ nests is shrinking by the day. The biodiversity of the campus is being destroyed, sources alleged.

The sources said that the campus was once dotted by various types of trees and 12 or 13 lakes. The waterbodies made an excellent habitat for migratory winter birds, which would flock to the campus in thousands every year. But those birds are no longer seen on the campus thanks to deforestation.

In 2014, too, some 60-year-old mango trees behind the Shah Makhdum (SM) Hall were felled by the then administration during the Eid holidays. At the end of that year, around 12–15 older trees were cut down in front of the Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Hall. The next day, the bodies of numerous young and full-grown birds and eggs were found lying around that area.

Sources said on March 22, 2016, too, the authority had started chopping down some trees in the middle of the campus on the excuse of building the Central Mosque and developing power supply. The authorities finally relented in the face of protest by Bangladesh Chhatra league activists and students. But the students could not save around 20 to 22 trees.

A nor’wester claimed some 25 trees on April 4, 2016. But, while removing the trunks and branches, the authority allegedly cut down another 200 trees on the campus.

Without issuing any tender, which is mandatory for the cleaning mission, some litchi and mango trees were allegedly cut down near Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman Hall on November 20, 2017. On March 26 last year, some trees were allegedly felled next to the university’s Paris Road.

Another storm destroyed around 300 trees on May 2. The species included ‘gagan shirish’, ‘debdaru’, mahua, eucalyptus, and wild jackfruit, among others. Most of the collapsed trees were allegedly looted by locals.

On November 30, unidentified criminals burnt down around 200 mango trees in the university’s orchard. A general dairy was filed at Motihar police station, but no visible step was taken.

The authorities blamed it on the increasing number of students. Open space for planting new trees is decreasing. New structures are increasing the pressure on the old trees, they claimed.

Prof. Md Nurul Amin of the botany department said old trees are being cut down on the campus regularly and teenaged trees are taking their place. This has both merits and demerits, he added. However, Prof. Amin said cutting down old trees is good due to natural reasons. “But obviously, if we cut down a tree, we should plant a new tree as well,” he added. RU proctor Prof. Luthfor Rahman claimed the university authorities tries its best to keep the campus evergreen. Only those trees are cut which create a burden or an obstacle for students, he said.