Cutting down mountains essentially means ensuring our own destruction

Day by day, the hunger of mountain destroyers is escalating. They are targeting the numerous small and large mountains of the hilly Chattogram region. Consequently, natural biodiversity is being destroyed. From a news conference organized by the Chattogram Center for Historical and Cultural Research and the Bangladesh Environment Forum, it has been revealed that even 40 years ago, there were 200 mountains in the city of Chattogram alone, of which 60 percent have already disappeared.

From a report in a daily newspaper yesterday (April 20), it is learned that the mountain known as 'Nagin Hill' in Chattogram city has also fallen victim to mountain destroyers. The names of two local leaders have come up as suspects. Allegations include initially cutting down the mountain to make it flat and later selling it off in plot form.

The question is, why don't the district administration, the Department of Environment, and the police apprehend those involved in cutting down mountains? In this regard, we want to say that we do not benefit from apprehending the workers hired to cut down mountains. Therefore, if apprehension is necessary, then the primary offenders must be apprehended.

On March 31, a young man named Sajjadujjaman, a beat officer of the Forest Department in Ukhiya, Cox's Bazar, lost his life while attempting to stop mountain cutting. On April 2, the editorial headline of Views Bangladesh was: Mountain Destroyers Must Be Brought Within the Ambit of the Law Quickly. Such issues are often discussed in newspapers, but it cannot be said that appropriate measures are taken.

To what extent are the hands of the mountain destroyers so long that legal measures cannot be taken against them? Everyone knows that these mountain destroyers thrive under political patronage. The current government is environmentally friendly. Then why do these environmental destroyers escape punishment by exploiting loopholes in the law?

Stopping such crimes cannot rely solely on the vigilance of law enforcement agencies. It requires public awareness. Mountain destruction will bring everyone to the brink of destruction in the future. In exchange for the petty gains of a few wrongdoers, it will be a huge loss for everyone. Labeling mountain destroyers as 'national enemies,' a call to organize a united movement against them has been made at a meeting in Chattogram. We hope that these national enemies will be swiftly brought within the ambit of the law. Such crimes are in no way forgivable.

Many fail to understand that mountain cutting is akin to cutting down trees in a forest, causing environmental devastation. The roots of mountains hold strong soil stability. Cutting down mountains leads to soil erosion. As a result of such mountain cutting, the risk of landslides also increases. According to geologists, mountains function like the nail of the earth's surface. They serve as natural barriers against earthquakes. Additionally, mountainous regions harbor a great deal of biodiversity. Through mountain destruction, humans are not only endangering their own lives but also destroying all aspects of biodiversity.

To preserve natural biodiversity, we must also protect our mountains. Mountains are a natural blessing for us. It's important to remember that while trees can be replanted to create artificial forests even after they are cut down, which is now being done at a large rate in the country. But the destruction of mountains cannot be rectified even through artificial means. Cutting down a mountain essentially means permanently erasing its existence from the Earth's surface, which will have dire consequences.