Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs Minister Dipen Dewan on Tuesday said the government will strictly prevent any resort or tourism project that damages the environment or involves hill-cutting.
He said the government does not support tourism development that damages the natural beauty of the hills.
Tourism development should focus on preserving the hill environment and promoting eco-friendly or ‘eco-tourism’ initiatives, the minister said.
Speaking as the chief guest at an exchange of views meeting with officials of the Rangamati Hill District Council at the council auditorium, Dewan said the government’s current priorities are the health and education sectors.
Infrastructure development has already been undertaken where necessary, and work will continue only in areas of genuine need, he added.
Urging all departments to work in coordination, he said lack of coordination often slows down progress. Each development project must maintain coordination with the Hill District Council and be regularly monitored, the minister added.
On project implementation, Dewan said there will be no room for wasteful spending in the name of development. Projects should only be taken up where required, and proper supervision must be ensured for each initiative, he said. He further added that the council’s work reflects the overall development of the district, and no irregularities will be tolerated in the name of service.
Officials attending the meeting highlighted the geographical challenges of the hilly region, noting that transportation and labor costs are significantly higher than in the plains, making it unreasonable to apply the same tender schedules as flatland areas. They also requested the minister’s intervention for high-level government support, including developing fisheries in Kaptai Lake, eco-tourism, education, and communication sectors.
The meeting was chaired by Rangamati Hill District Council Chairman, agriculturalist Kajol Talukder. Also present were Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Joint Secretary Konkon Chakma, Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board Vice Chairman Sheikh Saleh Ahmad, Chief Executive Officer of Rangamati Hill District Council Khondkar Mohammad Rizaul Karim, council members Pratul Chandra Dewan, Barun Bikash Dewan, Habib Azam, Minhaj Murshid, Naiypru Marma, Sagrika Rwaja, Vaishali Chakma, and Dayal Das, among others.