Stop hill cutting in 5 dists, HC asks govt
The High Court yesterday directed the government to stop all kinds of hill cutting in five districts, currently taking place without environmental clearance certificate.
Delivering judgement on a writ petition, the court ordered the authorities concerned of the government to take effective steps immediately to protect the hills in Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati and Khagrachhari.
It also asked the authorities to take appropriate legal action against those involved in cutting hills without securing environmental clearance certificates from the Department of Environment (DoE).
The HC bench of Justice AHM Shamsuddin Choudhury Manik and Justice Jahangir Hossain Selim delivered the verdict following the petition, filed by Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela) on August 23 last year.
The petition said some people were cuttings hills in the five districts without having environmental clearance and damaging the environment of the areas.
The HC on that day issued a rule upon the government to explain why it should not be directed to stop hill cutting and take legal action against those involved.
After holding hearing on the rule yesterday, the HC delivered the verdict.
Advocate Iqbal Kabir Lytton appeared for Bela, while Assistant Attorney General Yeadia Zaman represented the state.
Following another petition by Bela seeking restriction on cutting hills at Shahjalal Upashahar and six upazilas of Sylhet, the same bench on March 1 directed the government to take steps in this regard. The upazilas are Sylhet Sadar, Gowainghat, Beanibazar, Companyganj, Jaintapur and Golapganj.
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