‘Rohingyas will no longer be allowed to destroy forestland’
More than 11 lakh Rohingyas are now living at makeshift camps at Ukhiya and Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar
Holding Rohingyas accountable for destruction of the country's environment and biodiversity, Saber Hossain Chowdhury, president of the parliamentary standing committee on the environment, forest and climate change ministry, said they will no longer be allowed to damage an inch of forestland.
He made the comment to the reporters after the eighth meeting of the standing committee at a conference centre in Cox's Bazar deputy commissioner's office on Friday.
Saber said Rohingyas have created many problems, including destruction of habitats of animals and endangering lives of wild elephants.
Rohingyas are pumping water with around 10,000 deep tube wells, lowering the underground water levels. If the current trend continues, Ukhiya and Teknaf will soon turn into a desert, he also said.
More than 11 lakh Rohingyas are now living at makeshift camps at Ukhiya and Teknaf in Cox's Bazar, according to a government estimate. A large number of them are living in the forestlands.
In the meeting, the standing committee president also stressed the prevention of hill cutting in the area.
He said actions will be taken if any of the non-government organisations involves in cutting hills. Mobile courts led by the Cox's Bazar deputy commissioner will be operated to check the crime.
Shahab Uddin, minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Habibun Nahar, deputy minister of the ministry, among others, were present at the meeting.