State Minister orders crackdown on hill cutting, probe committee formed

State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Sheikh Faridul Islam, has issued strict directives to halt the cutting of hills and hillocks, and instructed the Chattogram Divisional Commissioner to form a probe committee.

The directive was delivered during a key meeting titled “Determining Measures to Stop Hill and Hillock Cutting”, held at 9:00am on Thursday at the ministry’s conference room in the Bangladesh Secretariat. The State Minister chaired the meeting and outlined urgent steps to curb environmental degradation.

During the meeting, the State Minister said the decision to form a probe committee followed a report published in The Daily Ittefaq on 8 April 2026, headlined “Eight Hills Vanish in Three Months in Khagrachhari”. The committee has been asked to submit its findings within seven working days. He warned that strict action would be taken if any officials, including those from the Department of Environment, are found to be involved.

Officials informed the meeting that mobile courts conducted drives in Khagrachhari district at Sadar upazila, seizing two excavators from the Kharichhara Masterpara area. In Manikchhari upazila’s Tintahari area, a fine of Tk100,000 was imposed, while cases were filed in Joggyachhola Union and Batnatoli.

In a separate operation in Bholaganj Shah Arefin Hill under Companiganj upazila of Sylhet District, authorities destroyed parts of ten stone-extraction machines and seized three trucks loaded with stones, rendering them inoperable. Three individuals involved in the extraction activities were detained and handed over for trial.

The State Minister also directed authorities to strengthen surveillance to prevent the use of excavators in hill cutting. He emphasised that prior approval from local administration, at both district and upazila levels, must be made mandatory for any use of excavators with clearly stated purposes.

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He further instructed that no permission should be granted to brick kilns without verifying the source of soil. The use of agricultural land soil in brick kilns has been declared completely prohibited. Cases filed by the Department of Environment must be investigated swiftly, ensuring prompt disposal and the arrest of accused persons.

Calling for coordinated action, the State Minister urged all relevant departments and administrative bodies to work together to protect hills and the environment.

The meeting was attended by the Secretary of the ministry, senior officials, Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police, Upazila executive officers, and officials from the Department of Environment.