Dhaka, Sep 17 - Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed officials to nab those people who were allegedly involved in the felling of 30,000 trees along the coast of Cox's Bazaar, even if they are from her party.

'Whoever the plunderers, even if they are from my party, find them out and take stern action against them,' she told the third meeting of the national environment committee here Wednesday, The Daily Star reported.

This is yet another move to curb highhanded behaviour by her party people who have been found to indulge in extortion and corruption since the party returned to power in January.

Awami League (AL) activists, said to be 'influential' in the major tourist resort of Cox's Bazaar, are alleged to have felled the Jhau (tamarisk) trees on about 250 acres of land in Teknaf beach and carted it away.

This has removed a natural barrier to any cyclone or flood to which the region is prone, media reports say.

Over 50 people cut down the trees Aug 5-11. They were led by Sabrang union unit AL president Zahed Hossain, his brother and Teknaf upazila (sub-district) unit youth wing general secretary Noor Hossain.

Shafique Miah, Upazila chairman and the party's sub-district general secretary, has provided 'a strong back up' to felling of the trees.