Centuries-old trees scarred by nails, advertisements

Roadside trees along the Jashore-Benapole Highway have long been used to display advertisements, obscuring the greenery and causing damage to the trees.
Nails, wires and metal fixtures are being used to install advertisements on roadside trees, despite legal provisions allowing fines of up to Tk20,000 for damaging trees in such ways.
During a recent visit to Jhikargachha upazila, numerous signboards, banners and festoons were found nailed or tied to trees at Jhikargachha intersection, Hospital Road, Thana intersection, Hajir Ali Women’s College intersection, Charatala and Gadkhali Bazar. Similar advertisements were seen on trees in Nabinagar and Navaron Puratan Bazar areas.
Local residents said the practice had continued for years. Although signboards, banners and nails are occasionally removed, new advertisements appear at the same spots within days. They blamed a lack of regular monitoring and effective enforcement for the persistence of the practice.
MA Monju, a surveyor at the Jashore District Council, said coordinated administrative action was needed to conduct regular drives against the practice.
Environmental experts said driving nails into tree trunks causes wounds that can allow water and harmful microorganisms to enter, potentially affecting the trees' health and growth.
The preservation of the mature trees lining both sides of the Jashore-Benapole Highway has long been a concern among local people. The Forest and Tree Conservation Act, 2026 includes provisions prohibiting damage to trees by driving nails or other metal objects into them.
Ariful Alam, deputy ranger of the Forest Department, said officials had instructions to remove nails from trees whenever they were found. He said he would raise the issue at a meeting with senior officials in Jhikargachha and discuss measures to address it.
Shopoth Boiragi, assistant commissioner (land), executive magistrate and municipal administrator of Jhikargachha, said the municipality would review previous actions, assess the current situation and discuss ways to resolve the problem.