Sylhet Bureau :
After receiving preliminary evidence of allegations of illegal cutting of hills in Sylhet, the Department of Environment has issued show cause notices to five BNP leaders and others.
The incident of cutting dunes took place in Kumargaon Mouza of Ward No. 37 of Sylhet City Corporation.
The accused are – former convener of UK Portsmouth City Branch BNP Shah MA Haque, his close associate Ashfaq Ahmed, Alauddin Hasu of Dolia area of ​​Airport Police Station, Suhel Ahmed of Tilargaon area and Siddiq Ali of Bargul area of ​​Jalalabad Police Station.
After inspecting the site of cutting dunes on Sunday (June 29), the notice was issued in an order signed by Md. Badrul Huda, Assistant Director of the Sylhet District Office of the Department of Environment. The accused have been ordered to appear for the hearing at 10 am on July 6.
The notice states, ‘The primary truth of the cutting of the hillock land in Kumargaon Mouza has been found. As a result of such activities, serious damage has been caused to the environment and ecosystem; which is a punishable offense under Section 6(b) of the Environment Protection Act, 1995 (amended 2010). Therefore, you are requested to appear before the department at 10 am on July 6 and explain why other legal actions, including filing a case against you in the Environment Court or the Special Magistrate’s Court, will not be taken against you for the mentioned offense. Failure to do so will result in unilateral legal action.’
Assistant Director of the Sylhet District Office of the Department of Environment Md. Badrul Huda said, ‘We have sent notices to the landowners and those involved in the cutting of the hillocks to appear at the hearing. In the meantime, the cut hillocks have been measured. Action will be taken against the accused as per the law.’
