The company had removed around 1,750 cubic feet of soil by cutting the hill over several days.
A hill in Sitakunda’s Bhatiari Union was cut to make way for a resort by Mir Group. Photo: TBS
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A hill in Sitakunda’s Bhatiari Union was cut to make way for a resort by Mir Group. Photo: TBS
The Department of Environment has fined Mir Group Tk11.75 lakh for cutting a hill without approval or environmental clearance to build a resort in Sitakunda upazila of Chattogram.
Zamir Uddin, director of the Department of Environment’s Chattogram region, issued the penalty order after inspecting the site and holding a hearing on Monday (9 November).
A preliminary inspection found that the company had removed around 1,750 cubic feet of soil by cutting the hill over several days, department officials said.
The action followed media reports on 19 October about hill cutting for resort construction in Bhatiari Union of Sitakunda. The Department of Environment later summoned Mir Group representatives and inspected the site.
According to the department’s order, Mir Group cut the hill without permission and began constructing the resort without environmental clearance, in violation of environmental laws.
Mohammad Moktar Hossain Titu, head of finance and business development at Mir Group, told The Business Standard that he did not comment at the hearing as the company’s lawyers handled the matter, referring further queries to the legal team.
Anwar Hossain Chowdhury, the lawyer representing Mir Group at the hearing, could not be reached for comment. Several other company officials also declined to comment.
This is the second time Mir Group has faced a fine for hill cutting.
On 5 September 2024, the Department of Environment fined Mir Bricks Industries, a Mir Group-owned brick kiln near the hill, Tk2 lakh for hill cutting, while a mobile court sentenced one person to three days in jail.
The company can appeal the penalty order after depositing 25% of the fine.
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