C T Online Desk: Chief Executive of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) Syeda Rizwana Hasan said that among the hills that have been cut in Chittagong city, 74 percent of the hills have been cut in Panchlaish areas of the port city. .
He gave this information at the views exchange meeting to prevent hill cutting in Chittagong city’ organized at Sangu Hall of Hotel Shaikat in the city yesterday .
He said that hills were cut in Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati and Khagrachari by ignoring the orders issued by the High Court and the government at various times. How to protect biodiversity by cutting mountains? In 1976, Chittagong had 32.37 square kilometers of hills. In 2008, it decreased to 14.2 square kilometers.
Referring to the orders issued by the government at different times, he said, in 1983 there was a government order – no hill can be cut anywhere in Chittagong. In 2007, a notification was issued – Hills shall not be cut except for nationally important needs’. On March 19, 2012, the High Court had issued an order saying, ‘No hill can be cut in Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban, Khagrachari and Rangamati. ‘
He said that hills have been cut in this area without ignoring the orders issued by the government and the high court judgement. There is also talk of replanting the cleared hills. We don’t think how to save biodiversity by cutting hills. .
Chittagong City Corporation Mayor Bir Muktijoddha M Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, East Delta University VC Professor Sikandar Khan, District Administration Executive Magistrate and Kattali Circle AC (Land) Umar Farooq were present during the meet.
