HC asks govt to protect hills in Chittagong
The High Court yesterday issued a rule upon seven government officials to show cause within three weeks as to why their inaction to protect the hills of Chittagong would not be declared illegal and without lawful authority.
It directed the superintendent of police of Chittagong and officer-in-charge of Banshkhali Police Station to file cases against the people involved in cutting hills in Banshkhali and other upazilas. They were also asked to submit a compliance report to the court through the registrar within 10 days.
The respondents of the rule are secretary of Prime Minister's Secretariat, environment and forest secretary, director general of Department of Environment, deputy commissioner and SP of Chittagong, Upazila Nirbahi Officer and OC of Banshkhali PS.
The HC bench of Justice Quamrul Islam Siddiqui and Justice M Moazzam Husain came up with the directions following a writ petition filed by the Secretary of Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) Asaduzzaman Siddique.
The bench also directed the DC of Chittagong and UNO of Banshkhali and the police officials to take steps to fill up the pits of Gunagari hill in Banshkhali within six months with money collected from the people liable for the damage.
It also directed them to arrange continuous monitoring in the area to ensure none can destroy the hill.
The rights organisation filed the petition in public interest upon receiving an application from a resident of Banshkhali area for legal assistance to stop cutting of hills.
HRPB President Manzill Murshid moved the case.
“One of the reasons behind landslides is hill-cutting, which poses a serious threat to the environment. This is why we sought directives to save the hills,” Manzill told The Daily Star.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments