HC issues injunction restraining 4 poultry farms from operating in Habiganj

The High Court today issued an injunction restraining the authorities concerned from operating four commercial poultry farms for allegedly not having environmental clearance certificates and damaging the environment at Madhabpur upazila in Habiganj for next three months.

The poultry farms are Quality Feeds Limited, H&H Agro Limited, Quality Integrated Factory and Fariya Mega Layer Farm, according to a writ petition following which the HC issued the order of injunction.

At the same time, the court issued a rule asking the authorities concerned of the government to explain why their inaction to remove the poultry farms from the residential area should not be declared illegal.

In the rule, the HC asked the authorities to show cause why they should not be directed to take necessary action against those involved in running the poultry farms which have no valid environmental clearance certificates.

The HC bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Md Kamrul Hossain Mollah came up with the order and rule after hearing the writ petition collectively filed by three residents from Madhabpur area in Habiganj seeking necessary directives.

The petitioners are Md Anisur Rahman Adil, Md Shajan and Md Abdul Hannan. The submitted the petition as a public interest litigation in January this year challenging the inaction of the government authorities to stop operations of the four poultry farms.

Writ petitioners' lawyer Sagir Hossain Leon told The Daily Star that the four poultry farms have no valid environmental clearance certificates.

The farms are reportedly not only causing permanent damage to agricultural land, but also posing threat of spreading contagious diseases among thousands of inhabitants living in close proximity of the farms.

According to section 12 (1) of Bangladesh Environmental Protection Act, 2010, no industrial establishment or project can be set up or undertaken in any area without following due criteria to obtain clearance from the Department of Environment, he added.