Manikchhari faces rising hill grabbing as administration intensifies drives

Authorities in Manikchhari seized two excavators during a raid on illegal hill cutting, but suspects fled, highlighting the growing scale of land grabbing and environmental destruction.

Hill cutting by land grabbers is rising at an alarming rate in Manikchhari upazila of Khagrachhari, with local officials saying influential groups have continued to level hills across several unions despite repeated enforcement drives.

Acting on a tip-off, the upazila administration on Sunday carried out a raid in the Kharichhara area of Joggyachola union, where several hills were being cut across a vast stretch of land, according to local sources.

During the operation, Upazila Executive Magistrate and Assistant Commissioner for Land Khadiza Tahira seized two excavators used for earth cutting. But those involved in the hill cutting fled the scene after sensing the presence of the authorities.

Local sources said at least 50 hills have been cut down over the past year by a powerful syndicate operating day and night while evading the administration in different unions of the upazila. Although drives are carried out from time to time, the destruction has not been fully stopped, they added.

Several people, including Md Monir Hossain, have long been accused of involvement in the activity in the Kharichhara area, according to the report.

“There is clear evidence that multiple hills were cut here. Two excavators have been seized. Preparations are under way to file a case against those responsible under the environment law. The upazila administration will continue such drives,” Tahira said during the raid.

She said no one could be arrested at the scene, making it impossible to immediately file a case against any individual. However, video footage and still images have been collected, and a report will be sent to the Department of Environment for necessary legal action.

Those present during the operation included local union parishad member Priyalal Chakma, upazila Anti-Corruption Prevention Committee president and journalist Abdul Mannan, journalist Md Robiul Hossain and Manikchhari police station sub-inspector Tarek Ul Islam, among others.

According to administrative sources, the seized excavator has been kept in local union parishad member custody in Kalapani mouza of the upazila.