The High Court on Sunday ruled that all proceedings for the allocation of hill-class land at Jhilonza Mouza in Cox's Bazar for the housing of journalists would be halted to prevent any potential environmental damage.
It also ordered to stop cutting hills in the Jhilonja Mouza of Cox's Bazar Sadar upazila.
A High Court bench comprising Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty and Justice Md Ali Reza passed the order after hearing a public interest litigation filed by Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA).
The court also directed the concerned officials to prepare a report on the current status of the 49.97 acres of hill land located there, said a press release issued on Sunday.
The direction was given to the director general of the Department of Environment and the director of the Cox's Bazar Department of Environment, Cox's Bazar deputy commissioner, and the superintendent of police of Cox's Bazar.
The court also issued a ruling and asked why the failure to protect the 49.97-acre hill is contrary to the constitution and the laws prevailing in the country.
To maintain protect Cox's Bazar from environmental disasters, the government declared 10,465 hectares of the district as an ecologically critical area in 1999, where the change of land class has been banned.
Among the other mouzas under Cox's Bazar declared an ecologically critical area by the government is Jhilonja Mouza.
It was proposed to allocate five acres of hilly land to accommodate journalists. Even though the allotment of land for housing journalists is not of national imperative interest.
According to the prevailing laws in the country, cutting or removal of mountains without national interest and environmental clearance is completely prohibited.
Earlier, in 2006, the High Court had issued a rule upon the government to explain why it should not be directed to take necessary steps to protect the area.
