HC for action against those responsible for air pollution

Staff Correspondent: The High Court (HC) on Monday ordered the authorities concerned to conduct mobile court drives twice a week to take legal action against those who are responsible for air pollution in the capital.

The HC bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed for public interest.

The court also asked the authorities concerned to take steps to surround areas undergoing development and repair works within the next 15 days to prevent the spread of dust. It ordered to spray water in ‘dusk-prone’ areas twice a day.

The mayors of the two city corporations, executive officers and director general of the Department of Environment (DoE) have been asked to submit a report within the next two weeks on implementation of the court order.

The court also issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the ‘inactiveness’ of the local administration to prevent air pollution should not be declared illegal and why the authorities concerned should not be directed to take effective measures to prevent air pollution in the city.

The environment secretary, DoE director general, mayors and executive officers of Dhaka city corporations have been asked to respond within two weeks.

Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh filed the writ petition with the HC on January 21 attaching the news and reports on air pollution in capital Dhaka.

Advocate Manzil Murshid stood for the petitioner.


risingbd/Dhaka/Jan 28, 2019/Mahidi/AI