In blatant disregard of a High Court directive, the hills of Cox’s Bazar continue to be stripped bare and the soil sold off by the truckload to brick kilns and construction sites.
Under cover of night and amid lax monitoring by authorities concerned, excavators roar across Ramu, Pekua, Ukhiya and Sadar upazilas, flattening landscapes that have stood for centuries
If unchecked, environmentalists warn that the district’s hilly terrain may vanish altogether, leaving fragile ecosystems destroyed and those who live beneath these slopes increasingly vulnerable to landslides and floods.
During the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays, a 200-foot hill spanning around 10 acres was flattened in the Ghonarpara area of Purba Lamapara under Kauarkhop union, about 10 kilometres from Ramu upazila town.
Local sources report that hill grabbers operated excavators daily from 7:00pm to 6:00am, stripping soil and selling it to brick kilns and supplying development projects through unregistered dump trucks.
They further said at least eight hills have already been razed in Kauarkhop and South Mithachhari unions under the Ramu upazila. Rampant hill cutting has also been reported in the Lama Para and Ukhiyarghona areas.
According to Musaib Ibne Rahman, inspector at the Cox’s Bazar Department of Environment (DoE), a drive was conducted on March 30 in Lama Para, Ghonar Para and School Para under Kauarkhop union of Ramu by the upazila administration and the local DoE.
Officials found evidence of hill cutting at eight to nine locations without government approval, with around 90,000 cubic feet of soil already extracted and sold.
An excavator and a dump truck used in the illegal operation were seized and handed over to Ramu Police Station. A case has been filed against 23 people, including 12 unnamed individuals, over their alleged involvement.
Ramu Upazila Nirbahi Officer Fazle Rabbani Chowdhury said drives remain ongoing, but many culprits evade legal action during mobile court drives. “Under mobile court rules, punishment cannot be imposed without catching offenders red‑handed,” he noted.
Advocate Mujibul Haque, chairman of Youth Environment Society, said, “The scale of hill cutting in Kauarkhop and South Mithachhari during the Eid holidays has surpassed all previous records.”
Recently, the Cox’s Bazar South Forest Division also seized a dump truck and filed a case against four people over hill cutting in South Mithachhari union.
Meanwhile, there have also been reports of indiscriminate hill razing in Chaillatoli along the Cox’s Bazar–Teknaf highway.
On March 10, the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) sent a legal notice to 12 senior government officials demanding action against those responsible.
The notice referred to a High Court directive issued on March 19, 2012, banning hill cutting in five districts of Chattogram division. The directive stated that any housing project or brick kiln built by cutting hills must be demolished.
In Pekua upazila’s Toitong union, nearly one‑third of a hill known as “Asmaner Khuti” has already been flattened. Locals said the 2.5‑acre hill was levelled day and night using excavators.
Barbakia Range Officer Md Khalequzzaman said the hill is not part of a reserved forest, limiting the forest department’s authority. “However, the local administration and the Department of Environment have taken legal steps.”
Local sources said the hill belongs to expatriate Aman Ullah, who sold the soil to influential individuals.
By law, hills cannot be cut even if privately owned. The Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995 (amended 2010) provides for up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine of Tk 2 lakh, or both for illegal hill cutting.
Khalequzzaman added that similar incidents occurred in Shilkhali under Pekua upazila, but action could not be taken as the land is privately privately recorded.
Abdus Salam, senior chemist at the Cox’s Bazar DoE, said no hill -- government or private -- can be razed. He added that approval has been sought from higher authorities in Chattogram to file separate cases over hill cutting incidents in Toitong and Shilkhali.
In Ukhiya upazila, allegations surfaced of hills being flattened after purchasing forest land in Thoaiyngakata to build houses. A large hill has also been razed in Sadirkata under Dariardighi beat of the forest department. Locals alleged hills are being destroyed one after another in Rajarkul and Ukhiya ranges.
Assistant Conservator of Forests Md Ovizzaman said a dump truck was seized in Bhanga Kata but later released, with no case filed.
He added that he visited Sadirkata on April 4 and found evidence of hill cutting but could not take action as the land is privately owned. He said the matter would be informed to the upazila administration.
Environmental activist Dipak Sharma Dipu said most hill cutting is driven by soil trading.
“During the monsoon, the situation may worsen as more hills are cut. If this continues, Cox’s Bazar will lose its hills entirely. Hill razing destroys biodiversity, destabilises slopes, increases landslide risks, worsens flooding, and erodes agricultural land. It also threatens water sources and accelerates climate vulnerability for local communities,” he warned.
He alleged negligence and inaction by authorities, including the forest department, DoE and local administration, have enabled the destruction.
He added that involving the army alongside the forest department may be necessary to protect hills and forests.
Every year, scores of people living on the foothills of the Chittagong Hill Tracts lose their lives to landslides.
