Environment, forest, and climate change adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has issued a strong warning against the ongoing illegal hill cutting in Chattogram.
‘The ‘Tom and Jerry’ games over hill cutting must stop. Arrest the owners, not the workers. Just arrest two owners, and the hill cutting will end,’ she said on Sunday during a stakeholder meeting, organised by the Chattogram City Corporation at the Theater Institute in the city.
The meeting focused on combating polythene use and conserving the environment, presided over by CCC mayor Shahadat Hossain.
Addressing divisional commissioners and government officials, Rizwana emphasised their duty to prevent hill cutting, urging vigilance.
‘Hills are being cut at night. Stay awake and guard them; it’s your responsibility. Government employees must serve the republic at all times, beyond the typical 9:00am-to-5:00pm schedule,’ she asserted.
She also expressed concern over the resurgence of polythene use despite its ban in 2002. ‘Polythene is an environmental disaster. Strict enforcement in 2004-2006 reduced its use, but it’s back now. Why can’t we return to jute bags like our ancestors?’
While acknowledging challenges in shutting down polythene factories, Rizwana highlighted progress, citing closures in Kamrangirchar. ‘Despite resistance, illegal factories are being shut down. Gradually, this effort will extend nationwide.
I urge everyone to stop using polythene bags.’
Rizwana also called for collective efforts to prevent hill cutting, noise pollution, and other environmental harms.
The event was attended by Chattogram divisional commissioner Md Ziauddin, Chattogram range DIG Ahsan Habib Palash, Chattogram metropolitan additional police commissioner Md Humayun Kabir, and CCC chief executive officer Sheikh Md Touhidul Islam.
Ministry of environment, forest, and climate change deputy secretary (pollution control) Siddhartha Shankar Kundu presented a keynote paper outlining the adverse effects of polythene.
