Police in Patnitala, Naogaon, detained a 30-year-old man, Tuhin Hossain, on Friday afternoon on suspicion of involvement in the cutting of about 13,000 banana trees. The incident occurred at a banana plantation in Gopinagar Panboram village of Krishnapur union, where farmer Saiful Islam said unidentified people entered the garden overnight on Wednesday and cut the trees.

Saiful Islam said the plantation covered about 22 bighas and every tree had bananas. He said the crop was expected to be harvested in about three months, but the damage caused an estimated loss of Tk35 lakh. He alleged the trees may have been cut deliberately because of previous hostility and called for a fair investigation to identify those responsible.

The farmer, relatives and local residents held a human chain in Panboram on Thursday, demanding swift arrests, exemplary punishment, compensation and government assistance. Patnitala police station Officer-in-Charge Niamul Haque visited the site and inspected the damaged plantation. He said legal action would be taken following a proper investigation.