In a decisive move, local authorities raided Meghpolli Resort at Sajek in Baghaichari Upazila of Rangamati on Wednesday, penalizing the owner for the unauthorized construction of a swimming pool through hill cutting.
Following the raid, authorities promptly closed down the swimming pool until further notice, aligning with a recent High Court directive to curb hill cutting activities in Sajek valley.
Led by Shirin Akhter, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), a mobile court intervened, halting the construction and flagging the resort with a red banner. The resort owner, Malik Shah Alam, was fined Tk2 lakh by the mobile court.
Explaining the action, the UNO stated, “We have received a writ order from the High Court instructing us to halt hill extraction activities in Sajek. Our intervention is in compliance with the court’s directives.”
The High Court’s ruling on Tuesday issued a rule, demanding explanations from relevant authorities within four weeks regarding their failure to prevent hill cutting in Sajek. Additionally, the court ordered measures to halt hill cutting activities and restore damaged hills to their original state.
To ensure compliance, the court instructed the administration to establish a monitoring team to prevent illegal hill cutting practices.
The Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) filed a writ petition on Monday, highlighting concerns over reports of hill cutting for swimming pool construction by resort authorities. Senior Advocate Manzill Murshid represented HRPB, with Deputy Attorney General Protikar Chakma representing the state.
Sajek Valley, located in Baghaichari Upazila, has emerged as a popular tourist destination, boasting 116 resorts and 16 restaurants within its two-kilometer tourist area. Suparna Deb Burman, president of the Sajek Resort and Cottage Owners Association, noted the valley’s rapid transformation into a sought-after tourist spot since the establishment of the first resort in 2015.
