Landslide looms large as unabated hill razing continues in Moulvibazar

Illegal hill razing is going on unabated in different upazilas of Moulvibazar amidst the high risk of landslides during the monsoon season.

Families, living at foothills, face a perpetual threat of landslides due to this.

Especially in Sreemangal, Kamalganj, Kulaura, Juri, Barlekha and Rajnagar upazilas of the district, an influential group is openly and secretly razing hills in violation of environmental laws. Numerous ancient hills and hillocks have already been cut down. 

However, even if the operation of the district administration continues, the hill-cutting cannot be stopped. The influential group is cutting the hillock into pieces, crushing it and occupying it, according to local people. 

This illegal activity ultimately results in landslides of hillock every year during the rainy season.

During a visit , it was found that the natural hills and hillocks are being cut down unabated for the construction of housing, temporary residences, resorts, hotels, chicken farms, high-rise buildings.

The significant role of the administration is not observed.

The number of casualties is increasing every year due to the razing of hills and hillocks. Additionally, wild animals are constantly moving to the localities due to the loss of habitat.

Every year during the monsoon season, the fear of the residents at the foot of hills in Moulvibazar rises.

Still at least lakhs of people are living in this district risking their lives on the top and foot of the hill. 

Every year at the beginning of the monsoon season, the district administration requests the people living on the dangerous hilltops and foothills to move out, but no measures are taken to provide them with full housing.

People who live at the foothills amid a high risk of landslides, claim that they are living in a dangerous environment with their families with the death warrant in their hands due to lack of alternative accommodation.

Every year during the monsoon season, the hillock collapses in different upazilas of the district causing loss of life. 

According to a private statistic, in the last two decades, around 100 people, including women and children, have died due to hillock collapse in different parts of Moulvibazar district. In addition, more than two hundred cattle died in the collapse during that period. 

According to the statistics of the monsoon season of 2022 alone, nine people including women and children have died and six people have been injured due to landslides in Srimangal, Kulaura, Kamalganj and Barlekha upazilas of the district. Besides, 10 cattle died.

During a visit, it is found that the high and low hills have already been cut into the plain in different places of Sreemangal Upazila of the district. And many houses have been built cutting half of the hills. Several thousands of families are living in those houses risking their lives.

Meanwhile, Pradeep Yadav, a local UP member of Sagornal UP, has been fined Tk 80,000 for illegally cutting the hills of tea gardens in Juri on May 28 this year. 

No implementation of court order 

In this regard, Advocate Shah Shaheda Akhtar, coordinator of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela), Sylhet, said: "In 2012, a writ petition was filed in the High Court by BELA (Writ Petition No.-9750/11). Following that application, on March 1, 2012, the court issued a ban on hill cutting in Sylhet. 

At the same time, the court directed the preservation of the hills and the rehabilitation of vulnerable poor people at their feet. But even after 12 years of the order, the directive has not yet been implemented. 

The lawyer also said that the district administration has no list of how many people are at risk. There is no government initiative or project for their rehabilitation or hillock conservation. Rather, there are many projects destroying the hillocks. Because of this, landslides often cause the loss of life. 

The situation takes such an alarming turn that there will be nothing to say about the hills in the future, he added. 

“On behalf of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa), I am constantly working to create awareness about environment conservation and river conservation. There are state laws, but no implementation of laws. Nothing can be done unless the state takes initiative. We want to ensure that there are no houses at the foot of the hill. The condition of Juri and Barlekha upazilas of Moulvibazar is very poor.”

He warns of a danger of environmental disaster if urgent measures are not taken in this regard.

Moulvibazar Deputy Commissioner Dr Urmi Binte Salam told that the matter has been discussed in the meeting of the law and order committee and instructions have been given to each upazila nirbahi officer. 

Awareness is being raised by miking and families living in the foothills at risk are urged to leave, said the DC.  

She also said that legal action is being taken against the people involved in hillock cutting. 

However, no statistics was found on how many families are living at risk.