Take legal action against those involved in hill-cutting, HC asks govt

The High Court today directed the government to take legal action against the persons responsible for cutting down hills and hillocks in Moulvibazar's Kulaura and Habiganj's Dinarpur area.

The deputy commissioners of Moulvibazar and Habiganj and director concerned of the Department of Environment (DoE) have been asked to submit reports to the HC in four weeks after complying with the order.

The bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Ahmed Sohel issued the order following a writ petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh, seeking necessary orders.

In 2015, the HC had directed the government to stop cutting down hills at Dinarpur and take appropriate legal steps against those responsible for hill-cutting.

It also issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why hill-cutting should not be declared illegal.

Petitioner's lawyer Manzill Murshid told The Daily Star that some local influential people have reportedly been cutting down hills in Kulaura and Dinarpur violating environment protection law, the constitution and previous HC directives.