Police have arrested a man allegedly for cutting down at least 50 Bakul trees and several other species along the Dhaka–Chattogram Highway in Betlatail area of Sadar Dakshin upazila of Cumilla district.

The arrestee was identified as Azmiri Hossain of Souratoli area in Sadar Dakshin upazila of the district.

The Roads and Highways Department (RHD) filed a case with Sadar Dakkhin police station on Saturday night against Azmiri for chopping down the trees for vegetable cultivation, said officer-in-charge of the police station Mohamamd Selim.

According to the case statement, more than 50 trees were felled along a stretch of about 500 metres---some uprooted completely, some cut halfway and some even burned, which drew a huge flak.

The trees were planted after the highway was expanded into four lanes in 2016 to enhance beauty and ensure safety.