DoE, CDA blamed for failure to check hill cutting

They also strongly criticised the Department of Environment (DoE) and the Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) for their failure to check the menace.

A number of criminal syndicates backed by well-connected vested quarters have been plundering the hills openly, but the authorities have turned a blind eye to such acts, they said.

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The Janaudyog and the Save Chittagong, two forums of environmentalists, organised the rally at Zakir Hossain Road in front of the divisional office of DoE.

Hundreds of environmentalists, students, teachers and journalists joined the rally. Later, they formed a human chain with banners, festoons and placards in their hands.

The speakers at the rally regretted that even the DoE has demolished hills to build its new office building in Chittagong, thereby encouraging the hill cutting.

They pointed out that Khulshi, Nasirabad, Burma Colony, Oxygen, Cantonment, Fateyabad, Hathazari, Sitakunda and Satkania are among the areas where hill cutting is going on unabated.

The speakers said brick kiln owners are directly involved in the hill cutting but the authorities appear to be reluctant to take action against them.

They also alleged that such acts are being carried out in connivance with a section of officials and employees of the CDA, DoE and law enforcement agency.

Prof Shafiq Haider Chowdhury, a leader of Forum for Planned Chittagong, Abu Taher Masud, general secretary of Hill Cutting Resistance Committee, Hasan Ferdous, chief coordinator of the Save Chittagong, Prof Shahidul Islam of Chittagong University and Prof Md Idrish Ali spoke at the rally, presided over by Sharif Chauhan, coordinator of Janaudyog.