End rampant destruction of hills and mounds

The practice of cutting hills and mounds to turn them into barren land is not new in Bangladesh. Despite much media coverage on the issue, no government has been able to stop it, and in fact, it has been gradually increasing. After the people's uprising, this destruction has surged, especially taking advantage of the political instability. The situation has become particularly alarming in the Sylhet region, where hill-cutting, land grabbing, and stone thefts are on the rise. Environmentalists claim that illegal hill-cutting is still rampant in Sylhet, causing fatalities. Between 2012 and 2021, 51 people have died in such incidents in Sylhet.

A report published in the media on Saturday (January 4) revealed that in the Shah Arefin Hill of Companyganj upazila in Sylhet, criminals have turned the area into a skeleton of destruction by looting the stones. The local authorities do not even have a list of those involved in the stone theft. The area, once known as a "stone mine" by the local residents, was once lush with greenery. Due to the loot by the "stone thieves," the stones have gradually been exhausted, and the once towering hills now have deep pits in their place. The gang has dug up at least 85 per cent of the hill area, taking away stones and soil.

Locals first noticed the stone thieves around the year 2000, and since then, illegal stone extraction has been going on openly. Between 2014 and 2015, the illegal use of "bomb machines" (stone crushers) started for stone extraction in the area. Over the past two and a half decades, the destruction of stones and soil has left the once beautiful hills resembling skeletons. Environmentalists in Sylhet have reported that the stone-thieves syndicate, having "managed" the local administration, has been illegally extracting stones and soil from Shah Arefin Hill and its surrounding areas day after day using bomb machines.

According to data from the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), as per SA records, there were 1,025 hills in Sylhet in 2009. Now, that number has dropped to only 565. The destruction of Sylhet's hills is primarily due to government and private sector initiatives, industrial establishments, and the negligence of authorities, coupled with a lack of law enforcement.

One of the world's three major crises today is environmental degradation, and due to Bangladesh's geographical location and topography, the country is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters. Despite this, the ongoing destruction of life and nature here poses a significant threat to our future. We know that hills and mounds not only protect biodiversity but also act as nature's nails to safeguard the surface against earthquakes. Due to fault lines, the Sylhet region is especially prone to earthquakes. Historical records show that Sylhet has always been prone to earthquakes. A severe earthquake in 1548 led to significant geological changes in the Sylhet region, transforming the landscape from hilly to flat. Subsequent earthquakes in 1642, 1663, 1812, and 1869 further altered the map of Sylhet.

The rampant destruction of hills and mounds in such a vulnerable region is certainly not a sign of good judgment. The administration cannot afford to turn a blind eye to this issue. It is quite unfortunate that such incidents are occurring due to the negligence of the authorities at a time when extra vigilance and awareness are needed to protect these areas. With proper awareness and action from the administration, perhaps it is still possible to prevent further damage. The harm that has already been done is irreversible, but immediate steps must be taken to ensure that no more damage occurs. The government must act promptly to protect the hills, mounds, and forested areas of Sylhet, Chattogram, and other regions, including Shah Arefin Hill.