Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT) Affairs Minister Dipen Dewan has firmly stated that the government will not allow the destruction of hills or the environment in the name of building resorts or tourist facilities.
Speaking at a views-exchange meeting with officials of the Rangamati Hill District Council at its auditorium on Tuesday, the minister said tourism development must not come at the cost of the region’s natural beauty.
He emphasised that the government supports eco-friendly tourism initiatives that preserve the ecological balance of the hills rather than harm it.
Dipen Dewan noted that the government’s current priority sectors are health and education.
While significant infrastructure development has already been completed, he said further projects will only be undertaken where genuinely necessary.
He stressed that development activities must be carefully planned and properly monitored to prevent misuse of public funds.
Highlighting concerns about coordination gaps among departments, the minister called for stronger collaboration with the Hill District Council to ensure smoother implementation of projects.
He warned that unnecessary projects taken up merely in the name of development would no longer be tolerated.
Officials at the meeting pointed out the unique geographical challenges of the hill districts, including higher transportation and labour costs compared to the plains.
They argued that maintaining identical tender rates is impractical and sought higher-level intervention.
They also requested the minister’s support for fisheries development in Kaptai Lake, along with initiatives in eco-tourism, education and communication infrastructure.
The meeting was chaired by Rangamati Hill District Council Chairman Agriculturist Kajal Talukder.
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