Earlier, he felled 13 trees.

Out of at least 20 costly Mehgani and Koroi trees at the VIP zone on the embankment, some 3 were already felled and some more are likely to be felled today.

BNP aligned influential businessman Joinal Abedin Dulal employed a number of labourers who have been involved in felling of the trees.

The employees informed they were contracted for felling 21 trees.

The felled trees were learnt to have been sold to local saw mills and its branches were given to fuel-wood sellers.

As newspapers ran reports, local police rushed to the scene yesterday, but they returned following intervention of local ruling party leaders and WDB officials, said the sources.

Local people are anxious over the incident, but none of them dared to protest it. The police and WDB officials also did not take any initiative to resist felling of the trees.

Rajshahi city Mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu told reporters that it is WDB who can take actions. "But they (WDB) are keeping mum mysteriously".

A few WDB officials seeking anonymity informed that WDB had nothing to do following intervention of ruling party leaders.

"The occupier was evicted from the land last year following WDB request, but he reoccupied the land as political leaders are busy over upcoming elections", said a WDB official.