One of the bulldozers seized yesterday at KEPZ in Chittagong. The DoE made the seizure, noting that the construction vehicles were being used in hill-cutting. Photo: Anurup Kanti Das

The Department of Environment (DoE) yesterday seized ten bulldozers from Korean Export Processing Zone (KEPZ) as those were being used for levelling hills in Anwara upazila of the district.
Acting on a tip-off, a DoE enforcement team led by Director Munir Chowdhury along with Rapid Action Battalion (Rab-7) and police personnel went to the KEPZ project area around 7:30am and conducted a drive for six hours, DoE sources said.
During the drive, the team found that the company was cutting hillocks by bulldozers and filling water bodies, causing destruction of biodiversity and environment in the area. The bulldozers were seized and handed over to Anwara Police Station.
Brig Gen (retd) Hasan Nasir, in-charge of the project, said KEPZ had all clearance and approval for developing an industrial plot in the area.
"After examining for seven years, the government and the DoE gave us a clearance certificate for developing the export processing zone," Nasir said.
He added that the company had stopped its activities at the spots where the DoE objected to levelling hills in its previous drive in January.
Claiming that the development work was "authorised and organised", Nasir said if the department finds any record of breaking provisions, the KEPZ authorities will abide by its order.
The DoE team leader, Munir Chowdhury told The Daily Star that KEPZ had got clearance from the department for developing an industrial plot, but the clearance does not permit them to raze hills.
Earlier on January 22, the DoE directed KEPZ to stop cutting hills in the area. It also issued a show cause notice.
A case is underway in this connection under the environment preservation act, 1995 (amendment-2010), said DoE sources. KEPZ will also be fined for the environmental damage in the area, they said.