Online Desk: Police on Sunday obstructed a pre-scheduled procession of the protesters, protesting against the removal of trees on the capital’s Satmosjid Road, from going towards Nagar Bhaban. A group of protesters, under the banner of Satmosjid Road Tree Protection Movement, brought out the procession from Doyel Chattar around 11am to gherao Nagar Bhaban. But when they reached Bangabazar intersection, police barricaded them to go ahead.

Later, they took position one side of the chanting slogans. Amirul Rajib, coordinator of Satmosjid Road Tree Protection Movement, said they will stay on the road until Dhaka South City Corporation mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh will talk to them.

The protesters will hold a briefing in this regard later in the day. On Saturday afternoon, Amirul made the announcement at a meeting held at Abahani Club Field in Dhanmondi to press home their four-point demand. Their demands include: stopping the removal of trees on Satmosjid Road, seedlings of diverse indigenous species should be planted in the place from where the trees were removed.

The trees are being cut from Jigatala to near the Abahani playground under a Tk 9.62 crore project, aiming to develop different infrastructures, including the beautification of islands, footpaths and road medians, and the construction of public toilets, under DSCC. The DSCC has cut over 600 trees under this project, including 20-25-year-old Banyan trees till then.