Hill cutting continues unabated in Sylhet

Small and large hills along the banks of the Surma and Kushiyara rivers give a unique identity. However, hills are being cut down one after another without pause.

According to sources, 50 percent of Sylhet’s hills have been destroyed over the last three decades. Hill cutting is being carried out using new techniques to evade the administration and officials of the Department of Environment.

The largest numbers of hills have been cut down in the period following the mass uprising of students and the public.

Abdul Karim Chowdhury (Kim), organizer of the environmental movement and member secretary of Dhara (We Hold) Sylhet, stated, “About 50 percent of the hills in Sylhet district have been cut down over the last three decades.

After August 5, 2024, hill cutting has increased several times.” However, he noted that recent strictness by the administration has somewhat reduced the trend.

He explained that various “mound cutting circles” have been formed.

“Most mound owners in Sylhet are expatriates who lack the capacity to cut the mounds themselves. They use these circles to have the work done discreetly,” he said.

Despite four to five raids on individual mounds and fines being imposed, hill cutting has not stopped. For instance, in Howladarpara of the city, fines were imposed four times, yet the mound was eventually destroyed entirely.

Recent visits to different areas of Sylhet city and its surroundings reveal ongoing hill cutting. Mounds have been cut in Shahi Eidgah, Chasni Pir Mazar Tila, Kalapathar Ashapash, Chamelibag, Baluchar, Major Tila, Tilagaon, Malaitila, Karerpara, Brahmanshasan, Duski, Howladarpara, Majumdarpara, the area behind Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Akhalia, Nalia, Dollia, Mohammadia, Goabari, Baragul, and Sahebbazar. In most cases, houses have been built directly on the cut mounds, sometimes semi-paka or semi-raw structures, posing safety risks.