Razing hills for chicken shed

A vested quarter has been accused of cutting hills in Chattogram's Dharmapur union of Fatikchhari upazila, to construct a chicken shed.

This act has been carried out without obtaining any approval from the Department of Environment (DoE), leaving locals and environmentalists dismayed.

The ownership of the hills is attributed to Abu Bakkar and Taslimul Alam, according to the land office of the union. However, a local source, seeking anonymity, has alleged that Nahar Agro, an agro business company based in Chattogram, is behind the hill cutting, using their connections with influential figures.

During a recent investigation conducted by this correspondent in the area, it was observed that workers were carving through the hills with heavy machinery, including an excavator and a soil-cutting machine. Additionally, an on-site mud house was being constructed to accommodate the workers involved in this project.

Mohammad Rashed, a day labourer said, "I have been working for Nahar Agro on this project for the past two days."

Meanwhile, Mohammad Anwar, the project supervisor, hesitated to confirm whether the necessary permission had been obtained for the hill cutting, stating, "I am a staff member of Nahar Agro... I cannot say whether there is permission to cut the hill."

Abu Bakkar, owner of a part of the hills, told The Daily Star, "We have sold the land to Rakibur Rahman Tutul, managing director of the Nahar Agro Group, but the registry deed has not been completed yet."

However, he did not disclose when he sold the hills.

We filed a case under the soil management act with the local police station against the owners of the hills on Tuesday.

— Sabbir Ahmed Sunny Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Fatikchhari

Rakibur Rahman Tutul, managing director of the Nahar Agro Group, claimed that his company isn't cutting hills there.

"We are only talking with the owners of hills to buy the land. We haven't bought the land yet," he claimed.

However, the workers involved in hill cutting admitted that they are employees of Nahar Agro and they collect their salary from the nearby Nahar Agro office.

Mentionable, Nahar Agro has already constructed another shed next to the area where chickens have been reared for the past one year.

Meanwhile, upazila administration officials confirmed that they visited the area and found evidence of hill cutting.

Sabbir Ahmed Sunny, upazila nirbahi officer of Fatikchhari, said, "We filed a case under the soil management act with the local police station against the owners of the hills on Tuesday."

According to Bangladesh Environment Preservation Act 1995 (amended in 2000), cutting a hill without DoE's approval is illegal.

Punishment as per this act includes up to two years' imprisonment or Tk 2 lakh fine, or both for first-time offenders. For subsequent offence, it is up to 10 years' imprisonment or Tk 10 lakh fine, or both.

Meanwhile, DoE officials confirmed that none had taken any permission for cutting hills there.

Ferdous Anwar, deputy director of the DoE Chattogram, told The Daily Star, "We will take legal action against those who razed hills after necessary investigation."

According to data from Bangladesh Environment Forum, 120 hills disappeared from Chattogram city in four decades. In 1976, there were 32.37 square km of hills in the port city, which decreased to 14.02 square km in 2008.