Stop encroachment of Talma river within 72hrs: HC to govt
The High Court yesterday ordered the authorities concerned of the government to take necessary steps to stop in 72 hours the encroachment on the Talma River in Panchagarh and the construction of structures in the river.
The court asked the upazila nirbahi officer of Panchagarh Sadar and officer-in-charge of its police station to take the steps and to submit separate reports in two weeks to it after complying with the directive.
In response to a writ petition, the HC directed the deputy commissioner of Panchagarh to prepare a list of the grabbers of Talma River in line with the CS and RS records and to submit the list to this court.
The court also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain in four weeks why their inaction to protect the river should not be declared illegal and why they should not be ordered to take necessary steps to protect the river.
The HC bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Mohi Uddin Shamim came up with the the order and rule following a writ petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh.
The HRPB submitted the petition as a public interest litigation on November 10 to the HC following a report published on a Bangla daily on November 3 on the encroachment of Talma and construction of structures in it.
Petitioner's lawyer Manzill Murshid told the HC that encroachment of river and construction of structures in it is illegal and a violation of the waterbodies and environment protection laws.
He prayed to the HC to pass necessary directives to stop encroachment of the river.
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