Chattogram, March 11, 2025: The Khulshi Club authorities have been fined 4,875,000 BDT (Four Million Eight Hundred Seventy-Five Thousand) for illegally cutting a hill near the club’s premises. On March 9, 2025, a team from the Department of Environment, led by Senior Chemist Mr. Rubayat Tahreem Sourav, Inspector Ms. Rumpa Shikdar, Mr. Sakhawat Hossain, Mr. Monir Hossain, and other Enforcement Team members, conducted a thorough investigation at the site.
The team confirmed that the Khulshi Club had been involved in cutting the hill and carrying out construction activities within the club’s boundaries. Through discussions with local residents and club officials, it was revealed that the hill was being cut to facilitate infrastructure development within the club premises.
During the inspection, land records were examined, revealing that the land in question is classified as ‘Pahartali’, Lot-9, BS Dag No. 143, and designated as a hill (Tila) in the official land records.
Following the investigation, a hearing was conducted at the Department of Environment on March 11, 2025. It was determined that 48,750 cubic feet of hill and/or tila had been cut without government approval, violating the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995 (Amended 2010), under Section 6 (k). Consequently, the Khulshi Club authorities were imposed with a fine of 4,875,000 BDT.
This is not the first instance of such violations by the Khulshi Club. On February 15, 2023, a case was filed at the Khulshi Police Station for cutting 6,560 cubic feet of the hill (Case No. 13/42). Later, on February 13, 2024, a second case was filed for cutting 193,600 cubic feet of hill (Case No. 31/63).
In response to these repeated offenses, the Department of Environment and other concerned authorities are taking stringent legal measures to prevent further environmental damage and ensure the preservation of the area. The authorities are committed to enforcing laws to protect natural resources and safeguard the environment for future generations.
