The court, led by Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) Magistrate Munir Chowdhury, found that boundary-walls and 30 to 40 plots were developed cutting a 15-acre hill of the area.

The cutting resulted in several cracks and landslides of the hill, posing a great threat to the lives of 10 families, living in shanties and semi-pucca houses at the foothill, sources said.

The court in primary investigation found that 10 people and organisations are involved in the hill cutting.

The court told the Department of Environment (DoE) and Police to file separate cases against the accused and stop construction work.

Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) and DoE officials assisted the mobile court during the two-hour drive.