Nearly 700 trees cut down without approval at Rajshahi Medical University

The university’s planning and development head says the administration did not authorise the felling

Hundreds of trees have been felled from Rajshahi Medical University’s (RMU) sprawling 27.4-hectare campus without any formal approval or tender process.

Despite being cut and sold, the university administration remained silent. Over the past few months, trees were removed in phases, with a sharp surge in the last month.

RMU Planning and Development Director Sirajum Munir said, “The university did not authorise the cutting. Nearly 700 trees were felled irregularly. The contractor has been summoned, and necessary action will follow once their explanation is received.”

According to the university, the campus hosts 7,300 trees, of which around 5,500 had been marked for removal for development.

While some were earmarked for sale, no tender had been issued, and no work orders had been given. Yet numerous trees were cut at the root.

On the ground, tree stumps were found buried in soil, while uprooted trunks formed small pits collecting rainwater. Some cleared plots were even being used for vegetable cultivation.

The Silinda-area site, once filled with mango, mahogany, and other fruit trees, now shows dry branches, cut mango trunks, and over fifty discarded trees.

The eastern boundary wall had previously required hundreds of trees to be cleared.

Locals reported a continuous stream of trucks removing trees over the past month.

Babita Begum, a local, said: “Trees were cut intermittently before, but in the last month, they were removed daily.”

Another local, Sharmin Begum, noted that two trucks of trees were taken away Tuesday morning, with four more removed over the preceding two days.

Allegations have surfaced that some university officials colluded with Hosain Construction Private Limited, contracted for land filling, to cut and sell the trees. The university administration, however, denies the claims.

Previously, a local owned a cattle farm on the site, which was removed after acquisition, though he continues selling mangoes this year.

University Registrar Professor Hasibul Hossain stated he holds no official responsibility for tree-felling matters. Vice-Chancellor’s assistant Nazmul Hossain also claimed ignorance of the issue.

Following public criticism, the university sent a show-cause notice to Hosain Construction. The company’s Rajshahi manager Delwar Hossain said their work was limited to land filling and denied involvement in tree cutting.

Environmental lawyer Tanmoy Sanyal stressed that trees could have coexisted with infrastructure construction, and the unauthorised felling warrants strict administrative action.

Rajpara Police chief Habibur Rahman said the university has yet to file any official complaint; a formal complaint would trigger legal investigation.