DNCC defied rules when felling trees

Information Commission yesterday found that Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) did not "properly follow rules" when felling four big trees in Banani area for its drainage and footpath development work few months back.

The Commission holding a hearing in its office fixed November 20 for further hearing, as DNCC Secretary Md Nabirul Islam who took part in the hearing failed to provide proper information.

The tree felling guideline was not properly followed in this case and there was a negligence from the DNCC engineering department, which is why Information Commission decided to give final decision after hearing the engineering department officials, said Chief Information Commissioner Prof Dr Golam Rahman.

Shamsul Bari, a resident in the area, filed a complaint with the Commission accusing DNCC of not giving him information about the tree felling despite seeking it twice under the Right to Information Act (RTI).

He first sought the information on May 3 and then on July 12.

In his application to DNCC, the resident wanted to know under which rules the city corporation felled his two trees in front of his house and two other trees of his neighbour.

Workers involved in the drainage development work told Shamsul that the trees were felled for getting the drain straight and building footpath on it, he said. 

Among the trees, a 40-year-old Bakul (Maulsari) tree was planted by his wife who died two years back, he claimed.

DNCC did, however, not fell another seven trees on the road though they, too, impede the drainage construction, Shamsul mentioned, expressing his happiness over not felling the trees.

He added that after many days he received a reply to his second application on September 8, which was void of complete and proper information. Among others, information commissioners Nepal Chandra Sarkar and Dr Khurshida Sayeed were present during the hearing.