Hills and protected forests in the upazilas of Chattogram are witnessing systematic destruction, as those are being used as raw material by the local brick kilns, under the umbrella of a group of influential people.
People, who are cutting and selling hill soil in deeper areas of Chattogram, mostly operate under the noses of the authorities. Even if they are caught during the occasional raid, they return to their shady operations after paying a small fine.
Experts say the top soil is important for agriculture, and the forests play a key role in mitigating air pollution and protecting biodiversity in the region. The authorities must take effective steps to protect the natural beauty and biosphere of Chattogram, or risk irreparable damage.
There are around 410 brick kilns currently operating in Chittagong. Of which, around 75 per cent are illegal. Although the government has instructed authorities to take action against illegal brick kilns, officials concerned are yet to take the matter seriously.
During operations conducted by the Department of Environment (DoE), it found that the soil used for road construction and brick kilns in various areas including Satkania, Lohagara, Fatikchhari in Chattogram is mostly soil cut from the hills.
Evidence has also been found in Fatikchhari that soil from the protected forest has been cut and used for road construction. Basically, the soil used in such construction is cut from the hills and sold by a group of local influential people.
Moreover, in Satkania and Lohagara areas, the hill soil is being utilised for making bricks, so its demand is high in brick kilns. As a result, soil is being cut and sold from the hills in deeper areas and forests of government land.
Besides, the reserved forest trees of these areas are being used as timber. Since the matter of wood is under the jurisdiction of the Forest Department, the officials of the DoE did not comment on this matter.
DoE Chittagong District Deputy Director Md Ferdous Anowar said, “Hill soil is being used for various development infrastructures and brick kilns there. Recently, in several expeditions, we have found such soil in various construction works including brick kilns, road construction.
“We have fined them and we also found that the wood commonly used in brick kilns comes from different local reserved forest areas,” he said.
According to latest data from the DoE, there are 410 brick kilns in the district. Out of which, there are 270 fixed chimney kilns, 130 zigzag kilns and about 10 hybrid and auto tunnel kilns. About 75 per cent of these brick kilns are illegal.
DoE had given instructions to use block bricks as an alternative. Now, there are seven block-brick factories.
An analysis of DoE raids show that an ex-lawmaker’s brother-in-law was fined in August last year for supplying hill soil to different places, including in brick kilns around Satkania. Besides, a man named Abdur Rahim was fined Tk 1 lakh for supplying hill soil to a brick kiln there.
At least seven to eight people have been fined for using hill soil in brick kilns in the last three months.
Three people were fined for cutting the red soil of the hill and using it for roads in Fatikchhari.
Besides, the local administration filed a case for the crime of cutting the soil of the protected forest hills and cutting the forest trees in Fatikchhari in the last one and a half months.
The forest department has seized five to six consignments in the last few months while smuggling forest wood.
Anowar said, “The hilly soil quality of this region is very good. Due to the high quality of these soils, they are being used to cut hills or hills in different areas. If this soil is used in this brick kiln then it is possible to make good quality bricks.
“Besides, the soil of this hill has been sold for the construction of various roads. We are regularly conducting operations against such misdeeds.”
However, forest department officials say that operations against illegal encroachers and protecting reserved forest areas are ongoing. Our officials are trying to ensure that forest wood cannot be smuggled in any way.
However, it is difficult to supervise such a large forest with limited manpower.
