Five contracting agencies, who were working under Max JV Company Limited, were fined a total of Tk 25 lakh for razing a huge swaths of hills inside a forest at Chakaria of Cox's Bazar today.

The companies are -- M/S Adib Brothers, M/S Bismillah Enterprize, Ritaz Enterprize, Sis Studio and The Khan Trading.

The engineering companies razed 11 lakh cubic feet of hills beyond the area approved for cutting for a rail line project, reports our Chattogram staff correspondent quoting Mohammad Moazzom Hossain, director of DoE Chattogram

The fine was slapped after a hearing at Department of Environment Chattogram region office at Khulsi of the port city today.

Moazzom said the companies damaged the forest and its biodiversity cutting the hills.

"We have fined them and ordered to restore the hill to its previous position", he added.