JU biodiversity in jeopardy
A large number of trees on the campus were burnt in several fire over the last few months as the authorities did not take any steps to check them.
A gang of miscreants set fire to a jackfruit garden on the eastern side of the social science faculty building some days ago.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. More than 100 jackfruit trees planted by university authorities in 1996 were burnt in the fire.
Bushes and trees on six acres of land at Wildlife Sanctuary on the campus were burnt in another fire on March 2 this year.
The fire damaged large number of medicinal and herbal plants.
In another fire, around 8000 medicinal plants having five to eight feet height were burnt to ashes in last January. The burnt trees include Haritoki, Neem, Amloki and Bohera.
The saplings were planted on the western side of Meer Musharraf Hossain Hall by the university authorities with the help of forest and environment ministry.
About Tk 2 lakh were spent in planting the saplings.
Sources said in the name of cleansing drive, the employees of concerned department very often set fire to trees and bushes destroying the biodiversity of the campus.
"We lack adequate manpower to look after our natural resources. The university security system must be improved as large number of outsiders illegally use university land as their cattle ground. Some students are also involved in the misdeed," said Md Abu Hasan, assistant registrar and chief of the estate department.
Expressing concern over repeated fire, Prof A B M Enayet Hossain blamed the outsiders for the incidents.
"Recurrence of fire incident is causing our land barren and affecting the biodiversity of the campus badly," he added.
He said the situation could be improved if a boundary wall is erected.