HC orders to stop cutting of hills in Sajek

The High Court (HC) has ordered authorities concerned to stop cutting of hills in Sajek valley under Baghaichari upazila of Rangamati district.

A High Court division bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil passed the order on Tuesday after holding a hearing on a writ filed in this regard.

Rights group, Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB), filed the writ on April 1 as an alarming news of cutting down hills to construct swimming pool by a resort authorities came on newspaper on March 29.

Senior advocate Manjil Morshed moved the plea for HRPB, while deputy attorney general Protikar Chakma stood for the state.

The court issued a rule, asking authorities concerned to explain in four weeks as to why it shall not declare the inaction of the administration in stopping cutting down hills in Sajek, illegal. 

The court also asked authorities concerned to explain as to why it shall not pass order to take step in stopping cutting of hills and bringing the damaged hills to their previous state.

The court directed administration to form a monitoring team so that none can cut down hills illegally.