Zakir Azad, Cumilla

A class of unscrupulous persons are freely cutting soil from the traditional Lalmai hills of Cumilla .

On the one hand, as the natural environment of the mountains is being damaged, the habitats of wild animals and birds are being destroyed and the biodiversity is under threat. Local residents and environmentalists say that if the hill cutting continues like this, Lalmai Hill will disappear in the next 10 years.

They feel that such a situation has arisen due to not taking strict action against the 'Matikhekos' of the hills. In spite of the High Court's ban on hill and hill cutting in Lalmai, several circles are cutting hills and hills one after the other. It has been found that on February 12, 2023, the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association filed a public interest writ in the High Court to protect Lalmai Hill. In view of this, the High Court ordered to stop the cutting of Lalmai Hill. Even after this, the cutting of hills and hills does not stop.

Local people say that Lalmai hill covers part of Cumilla Sadar Dakshin Upazila. Apart from this there are some parts of Adarsh Sadar and Barura Upazila of Cumilla. For a long time some people have been cutting the hill soil. There are also some institutions. In particular, hill soil is being cut in different areas including Bara Dharmapur, Dharmapur, Ratanpur, Vijaypur, Salmanpur, Jammura, Rajarkhola in the south of Comilla Sadar. Even though the administration sometimes conducts raids in this regard, 'Matikhekora' does not stop. Going to the ground, it can be seen that hill and hill soil has been cut freely on the western side of the company house in the large Dharmapur Madhyapara area of the hill. Most of the hills and hills in that area have turned into plains.

Local people complained about this but no action was taken. A portion of the forest department's hill next to the established Japanese school at Bara Dharmapur has been cut down. Local people said that a wheel cut the ground in the dark of night. In the neighboring Srividya area, the soil of the hills has also been freely cut. Going to Salmanpur area, it can be seen that the hills are being cut and flattened opposite the Magic Paradise Park.

At another place behind this park, a wall is being raised and the mountain is being cut inside. Going to Rajarkhola and Jammura areas, it can be seen that hills have been cut a little further from the road behind houses and trees. Most of the mountain soil is cut in the dark of night. Several residents of Bara Dharmapur in Cumilla Sadar Dakshin Upazila of Lalmai Hills said on condition of anonymity that after a few days, gang members cut the soil of hills and hills with tin fences. In some places, fish farming is being done by cutting mountains and making ponds. Various institutions including entertainment parks are being developed in nearby Salmanpur and surrounding areas.

This is causing severe damage to the mountain environment. According to local people, eight years ago Nasir Uddin and Saifuddin of Ichapura village in Laksam and Noagaon area of Cumilla city. Yunus Mia bought that hill. A few days ago, they got news that soil was being cut from their mound. In this regard, Nasir Uddin said, "Last February, I suddenly found out, 'Our hills are being cut.' But I could not find out who is cutting. So I could not take legal action.

Later, I informed the matter to the local public representatives. President of Bangladesh Environment Movement (Bapa) Cumilla Dr. Mosleh Uddin Ahmed said, "There is no alternative to protect the mountains for the balance of environment and nature." But in this regard, no action is being noticed in Cumilla . Bapa has complained many times to the administration to stop cutting the soil of Lalmai Hill; But it didn't work. Ayub Mahmud, Deputy Director of Agriculture Extension Department, Cumilla , said that the free cutting of mountains causes disturbance in the cultivation of fruits and crops. Mountains must be protected for the balance of the environment.

Everyone should be sincere about this. GM Mohammad Kabir, divisional forest officer of Social Forest Department Cumilla , said, "A part of the Japanese school in Bara Dharmapur area of the hill has been cut by a party. There we closed it by demarcating. Apart from this, I am also keeping an eye on that so that no one can cut the mountain elsewhere.

Cumilla Sadar South UNO Rubaiya Khanam said, "We have conducted various raids and taken action against the soil cutting cycle." As soon as we get the news, action is being taken. Deputy Commissioner of Cumilla Khandkar Mu. Mushfiqur Rahman said, "The administration is taking measures to stop cutting the soil of Lalmai Hill. Mountains and hills cannot be cut down in any way.

There are frequent raids. We will take immediate action if we get any information about mountain cutting. No one will be exempted in this case.