BPC fined Tk 9.6 lakh for illegal hill cutting in Chattogram

The Department of Environment (DoE) has fined the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) Tk 960,000 for illegally cutting hills in the Joypahar residential area of Jamal Khan, Chattogram.

The order was issued on Tuesday by DoE Director Sonia Sultana following a hearing at the department’s Chattogram Metropolitan Office.

Assistant Director Muktadir Hasan confirmed the penalty, stating that an on-site inspection and documentary review verified the illegal activity. According to the inspection report, approximately 9,600 cubic feet of hills—measuring 150 feet in length, 8 feet in width, and 8 feet in height—were leveled.

The act is a direct violation of Section 6(b) of the Environment Protection Act, 1995 (amended 2010). Under Section 7 of the same act, the DoE assessed environmental damages at a rate of Tk 100 per cubic foot, totaling Tk 960,000.

BPC was represented at the hearing by DGM SM Jobayer Hossain and LDA Md. Shihab Uddin. The prosecution included DoE Inspector Muhammad Ashfaqur Rahman and Senior Technician Md. Omar Faruk. The decision was finalized after reviewing the inspection report and the defendant's written statement.