United News of Bangladesh

Along the Naogaon bypass road, tall palm trees once stood like silent sentinels—lining the highway, softening the concrete stretch with shade and symmetry, and serving a purpose far beyond aesthetics. Today, many of those trees bear blunt, shaved tops, their branches cut back abruptly, leaving locals fearful that a decades-old natural shield is slowly being destroyed, locals and environmental activists said. The cutting of branches from around 750 palm trees by the Northern Electricity Supply Company Limited (NESCO) has sparked anger and concern among residents and environmental activists, who say the work was carried out without consultation and with little regard for environmental consequences. For years, villagers along the bypass—from Rambhadrapur to Battali Boalia—had planted palm trees using seeds collected from nearby areas. Most of the trees are now between 20 and 30 years old. Outrage in Sylhet after date palm trees cut down at Shahjalal's shrine Over time, they transformed the two-kilometre stretch into a greener, cooler corridor, breaking the monotony of the road and offering protection against lightning, a known benefit of palm trees in Bangladesh. But recent branch-cutting and top-shaving to accommodate electricity poles and overhead lines have changed the landscape dramatically. During a recent visit to the area, the UNB correspondent observed that while several thousand palm trees stand along the stretch, around 750 have been visibly altered, with many appearing weakened. Residents fear the damage may be irreversible. “It was not right for the electricity office staff to shave the tops of the palm trees,” said local resident Sakhawat Hossain, pointing towards several injured trees. “Some trees died after similar work before. Even when we protested, no one listened,” he said. Man held for felling 50 Bakul trees on Dhaka-Chattogram highway Another local resident, Belal Hossain, echoed the frustration. “Palm trees take decades to grow. The electricity staff cut the branches and shaved the tops in just one day. They could have moved the poles slightly to save the trees, but instead they damaged them deliberately,” he said.

In Jashore's Khajura area, dozens of date palm trees sway gently in the winter wind. A fearless Faisal prepares to scale few such trees with extension buckets to bring down the fruit of his labour -- date sap that's taken fresh or processed into jaggery, a winter delicacy in Bangladesh. But this date palm climber, who does his job with deceptive ease using only a rope-like harness looped around his feet, does not want his children to learn his rare skills. Read: Rebased GDP now official in national accounting "Already many date farmers have sold their trees due to scarcity of climbers. We want our children to study and bag a decent job," says Faisal. "Of course, some did sell their trees to fight poverty." Also, with the number of trees declining in the district, another climber Sadiq Hossain says the dictum -- Jashorer josh, khejurer rosh" (Jashore's pride is its date syrup) -- may soon become a proverb of the past. "Two decades ago, this area was dotted with date trees. Over these 20 years, the situation has changed. Date palm syrup is increasingly becoming scarce," he claims. Read Delicious Winter Pithas in Bangladesh: Where Savory, and Innovation Meets Tradition