An unscrupulous influential quarter blessed by the ruling party Awami League continues cutting hills in and around Hobiganj town posing a serious threat to ecology.
Local people alleged that as the quarter was backed by a local lawmaker and some corrupt public officials, the section dared to cut hills in the broad daylight.
The district administration sometimes conduct drive and fine people involved in the hill cutting. As soon as their drives finish, the quarter again involve in earth cutting.
Locals said Muddot Ali, former chairman of Putijuri union parishad, had taken lease of a sand quarry. He is not only lifting sand from the quaary but also cutting earth from different hills.
During a visit to Kaliachhara, this corespondent found that labourers recruited by the ex-UP chairman were cutting earth from hills and loading those on trucks, but local administration and the Department of Environment are not taking any action to stop such illegal activities.
“Hill cutting is not only destroying natural beauty and ecology of the beautiful town, but also putting inhabitants living at the foot of the hills to the danger of fatal landslides,” said a local seeking anonymity.
Azizul Haque Sani, resident of Kalinachhara, said Muddot Ali was involved in the hill cutting. As he had good connection with ruling party leaders, nobody dares to raise voice against it. If anyone speaks against the illegal activities, Muddot Ali and his musclemen harass them.
Sujon, another resident of the area, said they tried to raise voice against earth cutting, but local people could not dare to say anything against is because of Muddot’s political connections.
He demanded stringent punishment of the perpetrators after bringing them to book and pointed out that hill cutting could be stopped once and for all if the DoE and the local administration were up and doing.
Aziz Mia, who was working in the sand quarry, said the get Tk500 for per day. “We work to maintain our livelihood, so it is illegal or not, we do not bother for it.”
When contacted, Muddot Ali said his laboirers were lifting sand from the place which he took in lease. “We are not cutting any hill,” he said, adding that his political rival is spreading propaganda against him to tarnish his image.
Deputy Commissioner of Hobiganj Sabia Alam told the Dhaka Tribune that the district administration was conducting drives to stop hill cutting.
“We have seized many machines and equipments used in the hill cutting,” she said.
She also said the district administration sometimes could not monitor hill cutting because of man power shortage.