Panchgarh Representative:
Even after paying 5 lakh 6 thousand taka compensation to nursery owners in Panchagarh, eucalyptus and akashmani seedlings, which are harmful to the environment, are being bought and sold freely in the markets.
According to the office of the District Agricultural Extension Department, there are 40 registered nurseries in the five upazilas of the district. Of these institutions, the owners of the nurseries who used to produce and sell eucalyptus and akashmani seedlings have been paid 5 lakh 6 thousand taka compensation by the government. But still, eucalyptus and akashmani seedlings, which are harmful to the environment, are being bought and sold freely in the markets of the district.
In this regard, Panchagarh District Agricultural Extension Department Deputy Director Krishibid Md. Abdul Matin said, on May 15/2025, through a notification issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, in the interest of preserving the environment, ecology and biodiversity, in order to fulfill national and international commitments, the planting, lifting and sale of invasive species of eucalyptus and acacia tree seedlings in tree plantation programs at the government, private organizations and individuals were banned and instead, afforestation was done by planting seedlings of indigenous species of fruit, forest and medicinal trees. Later, registered nursery owners in the district under the Agriculture Department and the general public were informed about the damage caused by eucalyptus and acacia trees. It was informed that such trees reduce the soil layer very quickly and have a negative impact on diversity. Finally, compensation was provided to the specified nursery owners by jointly conducting sapling destruction activities with the cooperation of the district administration. However, if any nursery owner who has received compensation from our registration tries to produce or market these seedlings in the future, legal action will be taken against them. But the Agriculture Department is not aware of the list of nursery owners under the Forest Department and the compensation.
Panchagarh District Social Forestry Officer (Ranger) Manjurul Karim (acting) said that there is no privately owned nursery under us. The Forest Department has not received any compensation money. However, the public is discouraged from planting/marketing eucalyptus and akashmani tree seedlings by the government.
