CHTDB cuts hill in the name of development

CHT DESK:

After the tragic death of more than 150 people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts in June 2017, the government has repeatedly promised to stop hill cutting.

Despite the painful experience of loss of life in the past, hill cutting continues in violation of environmental laws in Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Recently The Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board (CHTDB) cut a hill in the name of development at Bethel Para Ghat area of Bandarban’s Ruma Upazila.

“We have cut a hill for construction of a bus terminal in Ruma upazila recently. Earlier, we have applied  to Department of Environment (DoE) for approval”, said Abu Bin Mohammand Yeasen Arafat, executive engineer of CHTDB Bandarban unit.

“We have to cut the hill to implement the project at an estimated cost of  Tk 1.50 crore”, he said.

The owner of this land is Jewel Bawm, a councilor of Bandarban Hill District Council (BHDC), said the engineer.

Contacted Jewel Bawm, said “Upazila administration told that they will acquire the hill which belongs to me to construct the bus terminal and will give compensation to me. For development we have to cut hill while CHTDB is not cutting the hill largely.”

Mohammad Mamun Shiblee, Ruma Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) said “After getting the information of hill cutting we have contacted with the DoE Bandarban unit and they said they are aware of this hill cutting.”

“Jewel Bawm wanted to donate the hill to us for development but it is still under process”, the UNO said.

Contacted, Fakhrauddin Chowdhury, assistant director of DoE Bandarban unit said “We were not aware of CHTDB’s hill cutting in Ruma . We didn’t give any approval to CHTDB for hill cutting. We will visit the spot as soon as possible and file case against them.”

Cutting of hills without the approval of concerned authorities has been made prohibited under the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act 1995, amended in 2000.

According to the law, a first offence of cutting hills without approval is punishable by imprisonment of up to two years or a fine of Tk 2 lakh or both. For a subsequent offence, the penalty is up to ten years’ imprisonment, a fine of Tk 10 lakh or both.

Zumlian Amlai, chairperson of Bandarban chapter of Parbatya Chattogram Forest and Land Rights Protection, said, “Hill cutting in Chittagong Hill Tracts is not stopping due to the connivance of some dishonest officials of the administration.”

“Due to indiscriminate cutting of hills, the biodiversity of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) is constantly under threat. The hills of this region, which have an extraordinary geographical distinction with natural beauty and bio-diversity, are being destroyed indiscriminately by various vested interests, individuals and organizations”, said Zumlian.

In addition to environmental degradation, almost every monsoon takes precious lives, followed by devastating landslides, he added.