HC asks for details of all hills in Chattogram

The High Court (HC) has asked District Commissioners (DCs) and Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) to submit a report on all the hills, including dag (plot number), khatian and their current condition, in five districts of Chattogram – Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati and Khagrachari – within three months.

An HC bench of Justice Mahmudul Hoque and Justice Md Mahmud Hassan Talukder passed the order on Tuesday after hearing a petition filed by the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela).

At the same time, in the light of the judgment announced by the HC in 2012, the court asked for a report on what measures the government agencies have taken to prevent hill cutting.

The court ordered to take all necessary and effective measures to protect the existing hills from further damage, destruction and cutting in the districts and to display on every hill the prohibition of the court on cutting hills.

The court directed the authorities concerned to plant saplings of indigenous species of trees on the hills which have already been cut down and protect them with walls.

Subject to the implementation of these instructions of the court, the court instructed the authorities concerned to submit a report to the court within the next three months.

CCC mayor; environment, forests and climate secretary; lands secretary; housing and public works secretary, Chattogram divisional commissioner, Chattogram Development Authority chairman; director general of the environment department and the DCs of the five districts have been asked to implement these orders.

Bela said it filed a public interest writ petition in 2011 to prevent and protect cutting hills. In 2012, the HC ordered to take necessary and appropriate measures to stop cutting hills in Chattogram.

At the same time, the court ordered to demolish housing projects or brick kilns in the said area. The court instructed the authorities concerned to stop deforestation and protect the natural biodiversity in the hilly areas.

Bela claimed that despite the clear instructions of the court, the government officials concerned did not take any firm steps to protect the hills. Influential people have continued destroying hills and the environment.

The order came on Tuesday in response to the application seeking full implementation of the 2012 HC verdict.

Advocate Syeda Rizwana Hasan appeared on behalf of Bela and was assisted by Advocate S Hasanul Banna.