Editorial
Hill flattened for housing plots
Telling upon eco-system
District authorities of Cox's Bazar allegedly bypassing rules and despite protests by the forest department, demolished a hill near Cox's Bazar beach to create housing plots for bureaucrats. The 51 acre vast expanse of land now stands flattened and denuded of its valuable forest resources in a government-declared 'ecologically critical area'. It is worthwhile to note that the hill in question at Kolaitoli has been levelled by felling trees in violation of a law that prohibits such action without permission of the Ministry of Forest. We are also concerned over the fact that an erstwhile IGP is listed amongst the beneficiaries ranking atop a total number of 500. The list also includes several Deputy Commissioners including many other government officials. The controversial project was approved by the erstwhile BNP government.In the meantime we find it rather outrageous the claim made by some of the allottees that they had no knowledge about the adverse impact on the ecology the project may have on the surrounding areas and beyond. We find the whole incident not only shocking but bizarre. It is sad that such debilitating acts can take place with explicit involvement of a good number of people of the society who are otherwise known to be responsible and conscientious citizens of the country. However, it's good to learn that the construction work has been suspended since February 19 due to joint forces' intervention in response to media reports and environmentalists' express concerns. But the damage had already been done. Bangladesh is already at the cross roads of being a veritable time bomb of ecological disaster, both man made and natural. In recent times scientists have already reminded us by predicting that a large mass of land of Bangladesh particularly surrounding the coastal belt may go under the sea in not too distant a future due to global warming. It is thus our earnest hope that the present government would carry out a thorough investigation into the whole incident, punish those found responsible and reforest the area. No flattening of hills, please!
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