Despite multiple fatalities every year due to landslides during the monsoon, illegal hill cutting continues unabated. Even with enforcement under existing laws, awareness campaigns, and monitoring by the local administration, this environmentally destructive activity persists.
Allegations suggest that despite providing information about illegal hill cutting, the concerned authorities fail to take prompt action, emboldening the hill-cutting syndicates. As a result, numerous small and large hills in Bandarban are gradually losing their natural features. Many unnamed small hills or mounds have already disappeared.
According to the Department of Environment, mobile courts are conducted upon receiving complaints. However, delays occur due to manpower shortages and lack of vehicles, said Rezaul Karim, Assistant Director of the Department of Environment in Bandarban.
On Friday, a field visit to several areas including Balaghata Bakichhara Natun Para and Kyamlung in the district town revealed that the Nazim syndicate has become reckless in illegal hill cutting under the banner of the Jubo Dal. Nazim has again engaged in hill cutting to fill the site for the construction of a power grid in the Balaghata Swarnamandir area. Earth is being removed in broad daylight with excavators, and this soil is being transported by several dumper trucks for filling low-lying lands. Despite multiple fines and lawsuits in the past, these hill-cutting syndicates seem unstoppable. Locals allege that due to merely symbolic fines and cases, hill cutting has not ceased.
Meanwhile, there are allegations that under the leadership of District Jubo Dal member Nazim Uddin, hill cutting is taking place in various areas. Even a month ago, these leaders collectively cut hills near roads and schools in Thoai Gya Para, Chorui Para, Lemujhiri, Kuhalong, and several other locations.
A few days ago, when journalists went to cover news at an illegal hill-cutting site, they were attacked by the hill cutters, and two people and a truck were detained by the administration in that incident. Despite multiple fines by the Department of Environment and the Upazila administration for environmental destruction through hill cutting, this leader appears to be again recklessly involved, showing disregard for the law.
Investigation revealed that in a place called Bakichhara Natun Para on the Bandarban–Rangamati road, a massive hill-cutting operation is underway inside a tin-fenced area using excavators. Four T.S. trucks are being used to transport the soil from these hills. This soil is being dumped to fill the site for the construction of the power grid. As a result, the roads have become slippery with soil falling from the trucks, drawing complaints from commuters.
When contacted over the phone about the illegal hill cutting, District Jubo Dal member Nazim Uddin admitted his involvement and said that soil is being removed from hills in the Bakichhara area to fill the power grid site. He also claimed that the District Commissioner has given permission for the hill cutting and suggested speaking with the DC if needed.
Rezaul Karim, Assistant Director of the Bandarban Department of Environment, said Nazim was fined last time for hill cutting. If hill cutting resumes, action will be taken again according to the law.
When asked about the permission for hill cutting, District Commissioner Shamim Ara Rini said no permission has been granted for any kind of hill cutting. She also stated that Nazim Uddin had previously been fined by the UNO for illegal hill cutting. If the hill cutting resumes, action will be taken against him again.
