DoE official faces lawmaker’s wrath

AKM Bahauddin Bahar, lawmaker of Cumilla-6 constituency, has threatened an official of the Department of Environment (DoE) with dire consequences after she inspected a hill-cutting project by Roads and Highways Department (RHD) and prepared a damage assessment report.

Shawkat Ara Koli, deputy director of DoE Cumilla office, inspected the spot at Sadar (south) upazila where two contracting firms -- M/S Hasan Techno Builders and M/S Haque Enterprise -- that reportedly have close ties with MP Bahar, were found flattening around 11,400 cubic feet of hill to expand the existing road under a project of RHD.

MP Bahar called Koli over phone on Wednesday, asking how she dared to prepare the inspection report without consulting him, even though the inspection was conducted in presence of representatives from the contracting firms.

"You have seen the good side of me and yet to see the bad. I will lock up the DoE office. Nonsense! Have you got so much power? How dare you prepare inspection report without me, as I am part of it? Come to my office within ten minutes!" MP Bahar was heard saying in the recorded phone call, a copy of which was obtained by The Daily Star.

He also continued to charge her about why she chose to issue notice to him instead of issuing it to the RHD.

The DoE official said she issued notices to the two contracting firms as per rules and did not issue any notice to the MP.

MP Bahar also asked her to leave Cumilla within 15 days.

Terrified, Shawkat Ara Koli did not make any comment.

Contacted, Mohammad Moazzom Hossain, director of DoE Chattogram region, told The Daily Star that such behaviour was unexpected from a lawmaker who is supposed to help DoE ensure protection of the environment that the prime minister has set among her top ten priority list.

"State or private -- if any organisation has to cut hill for the sake of country's interest, then DoE will issue permission after proper procedure is followed. If there was any mistake on our part the lawmaker could have pointed that out in the report," the director added.

MP Bahar did not receive phone calls despite repeated attempts by this newspaper. He did not reply to text messages either.