HC stays allotment of hilly land in Cox's Bazar for journalists’ housing

The High Court on Sunday stayed the proceedings to allot five acres of hill class land of Jhilongja Mouza in Cox's Bazar for a housing project for the journalists.
It also asked the bodies concerned to submit a report with it on the current condition of the 49.97 acres of hill class land of Jhilongja Mouza.
Director General of the Department of Environment, Director of the Department of Environment in Cox'z Bazar, Deputy Commissioner and Police Superintendent of the district have been asked to comply with the direction.
The High Court bench of Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty and Justice Md Ali Reza passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed by the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA).
At the same time, the court also instructed the respondents to stop cutting and damaging mountains in the Jhilongja Mouza.
A total of 10465 hectares of land of the district including its Jhilonja Mouza was declared as ecologically critical area on April 19, 1999. Any kind of change in the land of that area is totally prohibited.
A total of 49.97 acres of hill class land in Jhilongja Mouza is on record in favor of the Deputy Commissioner of Cox's Bazar on behalf of the Government of Bangladesh. According to a memo dated May 5, 2010, a total of five acres of hilly land in that Mauza has been proposed for allotment of housing for journalists.

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