Hill Being Razed for Resort Construction in Sitakunda

By the Editorial Team · Monday, October 19, 2026

Mir Group is leveling a hill in Bhatiari, Chattogram, for resort construction despite warnings and a recent fine from the Department of Environment (DoE) for unauthorized hill cutting near protected forest land. This incident highlights ongoing environmental concerns as over 120 hills in the region have vanished in the past 40 years, prompting further legal action and scrutiny from authorities.

A hill in the Khillapara area of Bhatiari union within Sitakunda upazila, Chattogram, is reportedly being leveled by Mir Group for the construction of a resort, despite prior intervention by the Department of Environment (DoE) concerning hill cutting in the vicinity.

During a recent inspection, DoE officials noted the removal of approximately 1,750 cubic feet of soil over several days, according to Ashraf Uddin, assistant director of the DoE’s Chattogram district office. The site lies near a protected forest area, prompting concerns from environmental and forestry authorities.

On September 5, 2024, the DoE imposed a fine of Tk 2 lakh on Mir Bricks Industries, a brick kiln owned by Mir Group and situated adjacent to the hill, for unauthorized hill cutting. In addition, a mobile court sentenced an individual connected to the case to three days’ imprisonment. The Forest Department, represented by Ashraful Islam, deputy ranger of the Faujdar Beat under the Kumira Range of the Chattogram North Forest Division, stated that while the hill is privately owned, it borders protected forest land. The department has issued warnings to those involved to avoid encroachment and has reported the matter to DoE for further legal proceedings.

Abdullah Ibn Zaid is reported to be overseeing the resort construction under the direction of Mir Group Managing Director Mohammad Abdus Salam. However, Salam denied claims of unlawful hill cutting, asserting that the construction is focused on utilizing the natural beauty of the hilly terrain without damaging it. He also contested earlier allegations related to Mir Bricks Industries, stating that the workers were engaged in agricultural tasks rather than hill cutting.

The DoE’s Chattogram Regional Director, Zamir Uddin, dismissed these denials, affirming that the department’s actions complied with legal requirements following a review of the available documents and evidence. He indicated that further legal measures would be pursued against those responsible.

Under Sections 6(kha) and 12 of the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995, unauthorized hill cutting on public or private land without DoE approval is punishable by fines and imprisonment. Environmental experts warn of the broader impact of such activities, with a study by Professor Edris Alam of the Department of Geography and Environment at Chittagong University revealing that over 120 hills in Chattogram have disappeared in the past four decades.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.