The High Court today directed the authorities concerned not to damage the nests of birds at a mango orchard in Khordh Bausa village under Bagha Upazila of Rajshahi.

The court also issued rule asking the local administration to explain why the area of the mango orchard should not be declared a sanctuary for the birds.

At the same time, it asked the deputy commissioner (DC) of Rajshahi and the unpazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Bagha to assess whether there is any possibility of loss by the owner of the orchard or the person who got its lease if it is declared a sanctuary for the birds.

The DC and UNO have been ordered to submit the assessment report to the HC in 40 days.

The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman came up with the order and rule on a suo moto (voluntary) move following a report published on the daily Prothom Alo yesterday under a headline “Pakhider Uchchede 15 Din Shomoy Dilen Baganmalik (Orchard owner gives 15 days to evict birds”.

Advocate Progna Paramita Roy, a Supreme Court lawyer, placed the news report before the HC bench for necessary order to protect the birds in the mango orchard.

According to the report, few thousand Shamukkhol birds have built nests in 25 trees of the mango orchard at Khordh Bausa village under Bagha Upazila in Rajshahi,

But the birds are now under threat as the owner of the orchard Ataur Rahman wants to damage the nests in order to nurse the mango trees.

Ataur Rahman, who got lease of the garden at Tk 7 lakh for two years, on Tuesday told the bird-lovers that he will damage the nests if any step is not taken in 15 days, the Prothom Alo report said.

Today, the HC said the nests of birds cannot be damaged.