DCs urged to Take action against hill cutting, forest grabbers

Hill cutting in Chittagong

Dhaka, 19 January:   The Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has directed the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to take necessary steps to stop deforestation and evict the forest occupants to protect the environment.

The directive was given at the first session of the second day of the Deputy Commissioners’ (DC) Conference at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital today. At the end of the session, the Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Md. Shahab Uddin told this to the journalists.  Deputy Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Habibun Nahar, Secretary Md. Mostafa Kamal, Director General of Environment Department Md. Ashraf Uddin and Chief Conservator of Forests Md. Amir Hossain Chowdhury were present on the occasion.

The Minister for Environment and Forest said that a lot of cooperation from the Deputy Commissioners is needed to protect the forest lands, protect the environment and biodiversity from the adverse effects of climate change.  We have given them guidance in that regard.  He said that the deputy commissioners will take necessary steps to stop the cutting of hills and cutting down of trees for the protection of environment.  We have sought their cooperation in closing down the illegal brickfields and asked for immediate actions so that no illegal occupants can occupy the forest. - Handout No: 236