Hill plunderers threaten habitations, ecology in Juri
When nature all around the world, including in Bangladesh, is showing signs of rejuvenation amid restricted movement of humans, hillocks in Moulvibazar's Juri upazila do not seem to catch a break.
One would think that the spread of coronavirus pandemic would deter criminals from committing crimes. But in Juri upazila, criminals seem to have found the prevailing situation more convenient. During the past few months they continued their destructive activities in full swing.
They have been removing earth from at least 12 hillocks, which may collapse anytime during downpours or earthquakes and cause fatalities to more than three hundred families living on or around those.
The hillocks are located in Mohammad Nagar, Montail, Champakalta, Kali Nagar, Government Khas Land High Hills, Bachirpur, Amtail, Kachurgul, Lathi Tila, Phultola, Sagornal and Dakkhin Baradahar villages, according to locals.
They alleged that they had made numerous complaints in this regard to the local administration, but the latter did not pay heed.
Aside from causing catastrophic damage to locals, the ongoing destruction of topography will result in serious imbalance to the ecology and biodiversity in the area, said green activists.
While visiting different parts of Juri upazila recently, this correspondent witnessed cutting of hillocks in Phultola village. As he made attempt to get closer to the workers, they hastily fled the scene.
In Sagornal village, workers cutting another hillock were not as afraid as the ones in Phultola. Some of them said they were being paid for the job by Ali Hosain, a resident of Jangalia village.
Ali Hosain's version on the matter could not be obtained as he did not answer despite a number calls made on his cell phone.
Many of the workers requesting anonymity said Abdul Malik, Aziz Mia, Harunur Rashid, Mostafa Hossain, Selu Mia and several other people of Dakkhin Baradahar village have been openly selling earth from the hillocks, for Tk 1,200 to 1,500 each truckload.
Abdul Malik, however, denied the allegation, saying that some people might make the false accusation as they are out "to tarnish his reputation".
Abdul Karim Kim, executive member of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon, said the general public are no longer involved in the crime. Rather, the influential locals are still breaking the law against razing of hills or hillocks.
Some of the hillocks were razed for making roads and building houses. But only to make a quick buck, the influential people, with the connivance of government officials concerned, have been putting lives of around three hundred families in jeopardy by continuing to cut down the hillocks, he added.
Saheda Akther, coordinator of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), Sylhet unit, said as per the Bangladesh Environment Conservation (Amendment) Act 2010, hill cutting is a cognizable offence and no government, semi-government or autonomous organisation can cut or raze any hill or hillock without prior permission from the authorities concerned.
Unsustainable use of land and rampant hill-cutting are two major reasons behind landslides in hilly areas, said Dr Narayan Saha, former head of forestry and environmental science department at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology.
Contacted, Badrul Huda, assistant director of Department of Environment (DoE) in Moulvibazar, said the DoE has a 'zero tolerance' policy against the crime of cutting hills and they would take action against perpetrators in Juri upazila upon carrying out due investigation.
Moulvibazar Deputy Commissioner Mir Nahid Ahsan also assured of action against the hill plunderers in Juri upazila.
Comments