Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today spoke at closing ceremony of 26-day long Amar Ekushey Book Fair organized by Chattogram City Corporation. Photo : PID

 CHATTOGRAM, Feb 26, 2025 (BSS) - "What else here if hills are not exists in Chattogram?" Forest, Environment and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan questioned reiterating tougher directives to the Chattogram district administration to arrest owners instead of workers on charges of hill cutting.

 Adviser Rizwana made the directives once again while speaking as chief guest the closing ceremony of 26-day long Amar Ekushey Book Fair organized by Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) at M A Aziz Stadium Gymnasium on Wednesday evening.

 The adviser also handed over Ekushey Memorial Honorary Medal and Literary Award given by CCC to 14 distinguished personalities for their outstanding contributions to different fields.

 Rizwana Hasan said Deputy Commissioner has already divided Chattogram city into six zones and each zone will be supervised by a committee.
 
 "Wherever incident of hill cutting is found, the duty of concerned committee is to file a case against the hill owner. We want to see whether razing of hills are still continue if the owner is arrested," she added.

 Syeda Rizwana Hasan said, just as Dhaka is well-known for its pollution, Chattogram is famous for its aesthetic beauty.
 
 "You have sea, mountains, and forests in Chattogram, such a unique city you cannot find in the world. This is our national heritage; we have to protect these as our national assets. Saving the country from pollution by the ship breaking industry, protecting the hills and protecting the forests is our national responsibility, none of us doing these for our personal interests," she said.

 Adviser Rizwana said they want to see Chattogram as the pride of Bangladesh. "The combined efforts of everyone will help in building an environmentally friendly, livable and safe Chattogram city in the future," she added.

City Mayor Dr Shahdat Hossain presided over the function while Deputy Commissioner Farida Khanom, Dainik Azadi Editor M A Malek, and Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Nazneen Kawser Chowdhury, among others, spoke on the occasion.