Dhaka moots stringent law for illegal tree felling

Back from the Copenhagen Summit, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has mooted a new law that denies bail to people charged with rampant tree felling.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina back from the Copenhagen climate summit, has mooted a new law that denies bail to people charged with rampant tree felling.

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The prime minister instructed the concerned authorities to include a non-bailable section in the law which also provides prior permission in taking action against the offenders.

She also suggested that a provision be kept for punishing not only the offenders but also the people who buy or use these trees, on Tuesday.

Hasina, who pleaded for special funds for her country at Copenhagen, has taken action after several incidents of illegal tree-felling came to light in the last two months, some of which involved "influential people" which included members of her Awami League.

The State Minister for Forest and Environment Hasan Mahmud told the Daily Star that the government will take stringent measures against those who are felling trees. He added that if ruling-party people were involved, they would also not be spared.

Chief of the all-party parliamentary group on climate change and environment Saber Hossain Chowdhury said that the new law would make clear the Prime Minister's commitment to protect Bangladesh's environment.