Environmentalists and residents have raised serious concern over a recent move by Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) to cut 46 century-old trees and hill slopes from Tiger Pass to CRB area for the construction of a ramp of the elevated expressway. Earlier in 2022, the government bid to construct a private hospital in CRB area was halted amid strong movement of the port city residents and green activists. The CRB area, that takes its name from the Central Railway Building - built by the British colonial administration in 1872 as the headquarters of the Assam-Bengal Railway - is a scenic, hilly quarter of the Port City known for its Shireesh trees (Albizia Lebeck) Surrounded by centuries-old trees, hills, hills and valleys, this area is home to a variety of species of birds and animals. Chattogram residents celebrate the Bengali New Year on April 14 every year on an open stage called "Shireeshtala" at CRB area. CRB also hosts the famed "Boli Khela", an annual freehand wrestling challenge that draws competitors from far and wide. Read more: No cutting trees without permission in DNCC areas: Atiqul Islam Environmentalists and civil society members fear that felling of trees and destruction of hills will cause environmental disaster. Sources said CDA has already applied to the Forest Department and Bangladesh Railway for permission to fell trees and the trees that will be cut have already been marked. Meanwhile, environmentalists and civil society representatives have called the decision "irresponsible" and requested the CDA to find an alternative plan for the construction of the ramp. Ritu Parvin, an official of green organisation Environmental Movement Green Fingers Bangladesh, said, “CRB is marked as a heritage area. Bangladesh Railway wanted to build a hospital there, but the railway authority backed tracked due to people's agitation. No construction will be allowed in the CRB area and its surrounding areas which will destroy the environment. We will also stage protest. Already we have announced the sit-in programme at CRB on Monday.” Read more: Plant more trees to protect environment: Environment Minister According to the Bangladesh Railway, the Tiger Pass road was built on the hill slope to connect CRB and polo ground with the port area of Chittagong during the British period. It is known as a double decker road to locals. The slope of the hill has been kept as a divider of this road. Hundreds of small and big trees were planted in the road division. Some trees are over 100 years old which are abode of many birds. The construction of the 16 km long elevated expressway from Lalkhan Bazar to the airport at a cost of Tk 4,298 crore is in the final stage. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the expressway in November last year. But it has not yet been opened to traffic. The duration of the project has been extended till June 2024 as the work could not be completed on time. Journalist Mohsin Kazi, Joint Secretary General of Civil Society Chittagong, said that CDA must consider an alternative to build ramps instead of cutting trees by damaging the environment. “If any government organisation tries to cut the trees we will again start movement.” According to CDA officials, among the 14 ramps of the expressway, one will be constructed at GEC junction, two at Tiger Pass, four at Agrabad, one at Fakirhat, two at Nimtala, two at CEPZ and two at KEPZ. One of the two ramps at the Tiger Pass intersection will be on the New Market-bound road via CRB, while the other will be on the Ambagan-bound road. CDA sent a letter to the Bangladesh Railway on March 25 seeking permission to use 14 decimal land for its construction. Kazi Hasan bin Shams, Chief Engineer of CDA, said that the ramp will be constructed in the CRB area with utmost importance to the environment. “It will not have any impact on the environment if the trees are cut to build the ramp. While 46 trees are planned to be cut for the construction of the ramp, more trees will be planted. The ramp will be constructed in the national interest without damaging the double-decker road on the hill slopes.” Md. Sujan, chief estate officer of Railway Eastern Zone said, CDA has sought permission to use the land. “We have a seven-member departmental committee which will visit the area before approval. How much land is there, how many trees are there, whether the trees will be cut - the departmental committee will check all the issues and give a report. Then it will be sent to headquarters for approval.” Read more: WFWP-ULAB organises events to inspire youth to plant trees

The Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) has started dismantling the risky parts of the two buildings that tilted at Majhirghat area under Sadarghat police station in the Port City recently. The work started on Tuesday afternoon. Meanwhile, the locals blamed the CDA for the buildings getting tilted. They staged a day-long blockade in the Majhirghat Stand Road area demanding compensation. They said the buildings got tilted due to CDA's drain construction project. The excavation for the project caused the buildings to tilt as the soil by the base of the buildings was removed. CDA officials who visited the spot, said that the buildings were made occupying the canal’s designated area. When the canal was being expanded for the drainage project, the buildings tilted. READ: 3-storey building in Chattogram tilts CDA has already started breaking down the risky parts of the building, they said. Shahinul Islam Khan, CDA’s chief urban planner said, according to the CDA's policy, any infrastructures would have to be built 15 feet away from the canals. They were also informed about it when they got approval for this building. But the owners of the buildings didn’t follow the policy. Notice and time were also given to remove those from the side of the canal. Now these two buildings have tilted as the canal has been expanded for the drainage project. CDA would compensate them if they have valid documents regarding the land in canal area. But they could not show any papers, the officer said.

Awami League leader M Zahirul Alam Dobhas has been appointed as the chairman of Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) for another three years. A notice is this regard has been issued by the Ministry of Public Administration. Dobhas has been asked to resign from other organizational or institutional posts before joining as the chairman for the new term. In his previous term, CDA was not seen carrying out any significant urban development works. For this a section of the people of Chattogram are critical of the authority’s decision of extending his term.

A five-storey building tilted at Enayet Bazar in Chattogram city on Saturday, forcing the authorities concerned to evacuate the building. Police, city corporation officials and fire service men rushed to the spot and evacuated the residents of the building, said Nezam Uddin, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station. The five-storey building, owned by one Kartik Ghosh, was built at Goalapara 35 years back. Kartik Ghosh along with his family and his five brothers used to live in the building. Local people said the work of installing two more pillars was going on Saturday without taking any prior permission from Chattogram Development Authority (CDA). Also read: 5-story building tilts in Kamrangirchar In the evening, a crack developed on the wall of the building and suddenly tilted around 10:30 pm. On information, fire service men, police and city corporation officials rushed to the spot and evacuated the building around 11 pm. Police also asked the residents of an adjacent eight-storey building to evacuate it immediately apprehending danger. Meanwhile, the authorities concerned have blocked the entrance of the building with bamboo and logs as no one can enter it. Also read: 6-storey building tilts in Chattogram, residents evacuated Mohammad Ali, Senior Station Officer of Nandankanan Fire Service, said, “Already a notice has been hung declaring the building  ‘risky’ and the authorities concerned will take further steps on Sunday.”  

Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo on Saturday celebrated the 90th birth anniversary of Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, wife of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in a befitting manner at the Bangabandhu Auditorium of the Mission. 

The Department of Environment (DoE) on Wednesday fined a construction firm of the Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) Tk 5.23 crore for illegally cutting hills during construction of a road.

The Department of Environment (DoE) on Wednesday slapped a fine of Tk 10.39 crore on Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) for constructing a road stretching from Bayazid Bostami to Fouzdarhat after cutting 15 hills.