Three villagers’ determined stand against felling an ancient banyan tree more than two decades ago transformed it into a celebrated symbol of heritage, conservation and community pride in Bangladesh.
A massive banyan tree believed by locals to be around 500 years old has survived repeated attempts to cut it down in northwestern Bangladesh after three villagers stood firm against the proposal more than two decades ago. Today the tree has become a symbol of local heritage drawing visitors from across the region.
The sprawling banyan tree stands on the Eidgah grounds in Moyenpur village under Mundumala municipality in Tanore upazila of Rajshahi district. No one knows its exact age but generations of residents have passed down the belief that it is about 500 years old. Over time its aerial roots have spread so extensively that no one can identify the original trunk. The tree now covers nearly one bigha of land.
Around 21 years ago local residents proposed cutting down the tree arguing that it would create more space for the Eidgah ground. Others allegedly saw an opportunity to profit by manipulating its sale.
The proposal faced immediate resistance from village elder Mofiz Uddin who declared, “I also own a share of this tree. I will not sell my share.”
His statement reflected the fact that the Eidgah belongs to the entire community making every villager in effect a co-owner of the tree. Without his consent the plan could not proceed. Schoolteacher Abdul Latif and farmer Ali Afzal Khan soon joined him in opposing the felling.
Officials from the Forest Department later visited the site and assessed the tree’s value. Although its valuation was carried out three separate times the tree was never cut down. It remains standing today and has become a source of pride for local residents. Visitors travel from different areas every day to see it and the tree has become the defining landmark of Moyenpur. Mentioning the village now immediately brings the ancient banyan tree to mind and no one raises the idea of cutting it anymore.
For their role in protecting the tree Mofiz Uddin Abdul Latif and Ali Afzal Khan were honoured on World Environment Day on June 5 by the research organisation BARCIK. Mofiz Uddin is now 78 years old Ali Afzal Khan is 75 and Abdul Latif is 70.
Abdul Latif who was then a teacher at Gourangapur Government Primary School said he was the first person to protest the plan and informed Forest Department official Mohammad Yusuf Ali.
Speaking to Prothom Alo Yusuf Ali who now serves as Deputy Ranger of the Wildlife and Nature Conservation Division under the Rajshahi Forest Department recalled the events of 2005.
He said the then Tanore Upazila Nirbahi Officer Abu Taj Mohammad Zakir Hossain trusted him and assigned the Forest Department to determine the tree’s value after the proposal to cut it was submitted.
Yusuf Ali said that while carrying out the assessment in Moyenpur some local people followed him and attempted to influence him by offering him 500 taka so he would assign the tree a lower value allowing them to make around 5,000 taka from the deal. He said he quickly understood their intentions and also realised that those opposing the plan were genuinely trying to protect nature and the environment.
By coincidence the then Executive Engineer of the Barind Multipurpose Development Authority Asaduzzaman was also present in Moyenpur that day. He too opposed cutting the tree.
Yusuf Ali said he remained firm in his decision and valued the banyan tree at slightly more than 137,000 taka. He was later transferred from Tanore. Residents applied twice more for fresh valuations but every Forest Department official who later assessed the tree upheld Asaduzzaman’s benchmark and refused to set a lower value.
The high valuation eventually discouraged those seeking to cut the tree while strengthening the position of those who wanted it preserved. As a result the centuries-old banyan tree was saved.
Today no one in the village speaks of cutting it down. Instead residents regard the giant banyan tree as part of their heritage.
This post is republished from Daily Prothom Alo.
