The High Court on Sunday expressed its angers over the concerned authorities of the government for not taking appropriate steps in line with the earlier directives issued by it to control the air pollution in Dhaka.
Addressing the Department of environment (DoE) and other government bodies the High Court said, “Not even a small part of the directives issued by the High Court to prevent air pollution have been implemented. Illegal brick kilns have not been closed yet. People are being killed by pollution. Save people from the air pollution.”
The High Court bench of Justice K M Kamrul Kader and Justice Mohammad Ali passed observation while hearing a petition filed by rights organisation Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB).
The court warned that if the instructions of the High Court are not implemented, then it will summon the concerned authorities for asking an explanation.
Then the court asked the respondents to implement the HC directives issued to control the air pollution in Dhaka within two weeks and to submit reports to it.
Department of environment (DoE), two city corporations in Dhaka and other respondents have been asked to comply with the order and the court has fixed February 22 for further hearing on it.
Lawyer Mazill Murshid appeared in the court hearing on behalf of the writ petitioner, while lawyer Amatul Karim represented the DoE and Deputy Attorney General ABM Abdullah Al Mahmud Bashar represented the state.
Earlier on January 31 this year, the same High Court bench wanted to know from the concerned bodies to inform it by February 5 what steps have been taken in line with the earlier directives to reduce air pollution in Dhaka.
Manzill Murshid said, “We filed a petition on Monday (January 30) with the High Court seeking its order for the implementation of the earlier directives. After hearing on the petition the High Court wanted to know the steps taken by the government bodies.”
Addressing the lawyer of the DoE, the High Court said, “We have to say again and again to implement the court directives. We are ashamed of ourselves for this. You will inform what steps have been taken to prevent air pollution on February 5 (Sunday).”
Following a writ petition the High Court on January 13 in 2020 issued a nine-point directive to bring down air pollution level in Dhaka.
Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh filed the writ petition on January 27, 2019, seeking necessary order from the High Court to prevent air pollution.
Lawyer Manzill Murshid said, “Despite the court order, the authorities are not taking any steps to prevent air pollution. As a result, we placed another application seeking implementation of the court order.”
