Unchecked Hill Cutting Triggers Ecological Crisis in Chittagong Hill Tracts
Photo Collected
As World Environment Day is observed this June 5, environmentalists and experts are sounding the alarm over the systematic destruction of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). Despite ongoing legal actions and administrative interventions, the region’s landscape continues to be razed for infrastructure, land development, and brick kiln operations, triggering a cascade of ecological crises that threaten both local biodiversity and human lives.
The devastation is starkly visible in areas like Khagrachari, where local authorities recently intervened to stop the construction of artificial lakes that required carving through multiple hills. Such incidents are recurring across the three districts of the CHT—Bandarban, Khagrachari, and Rangamati. Experts warn that the resulting loss of forest cover and natural topography is accelerating the frequency of lethal landslides and depleting vital groundwater sources, leaving once-thriving hill communities struggling with water scarcity.
Research indicates that the CHT accounts for 89 percent of Bangladesh’s mountainous terrain, encompassing approximately 13,295 square kilometers. With nearly 1.8 million people residing in this region, the reckless extraction of earth for construction has rendered vast areas prone to disaster. The tragic 2017 landslides, which claimed 164 lives across five districts, remain a grim reminder of the consequences of altering these delicate ecosystems.
The Department of Environment (DoE) has filed 73 cases against offenders over the past 18 months, with Bandarban recording the highest number of legal actions. Fines totaling over 8.4 million taka have been levied, and significant equipment, including excavators and dump trucks, has been seized. However, enforcement remains a formidable challenge. The DoE faces chronic shortages of personnel and vehicles, leaving a handful of officials responsible for monitoring 26 remote, geographically fragmented sub-districts.
Evidence suggests that illegal earth-cutting is not limited to individuals; it often involves influential political figures and both public and private institutions. High-profile cases include fines imposed on the Quantum Foundation and Llama Rubber Industries for unauthorized hill cutting, as well as legal action against former local government officials and unauthorized infrastructure projects like the Rangamati Science and Technology University campus.
Academics, such as Professor Iqbal Sarowar of the University of Chittagong, emphasize that the current rate of destruction is fundamentally destabilizing the region. “The indiscriminate cutting of hills increases slope steepness and compromises soil integrity, making landslides inevitable,” Sarowar noted, urging the government to implement more robust conservation strategies.
In response to these systemic failures, the DoE is now exploring technological solutions, including the deployment of drones to monitor remote areas that are otherwise inaccessible. Regional Director of the DoE, Jamir Uddin, stated that the department is also moving to establish local environmental protection committees, which will include community leaders, educators, and journalists, to bolster oversight. Despite these efforts, the lack of reliable data on the total extent of the damage remains a significant hurdle in preserving the remaining natural heritage of the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
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