Celebrating the bi-lingual translation of the HCD verdict on rivers
On Wednesday, 11 November 2020, the bi-lingual English-Bangla translation of the 2019 landmark HCD judgment recognising rivers as legal personalities was launched. The HCD judgment of a public interest litigation regarding illegal encroachment and pollution of rivers across the country established that rivers have a legal personality. The judgment relied on the Public Trust doctrine to uphold the public's right to environment.
The translation project was funded by UK Research and Innovation and approved by Justice Ashraful Kamal of the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh last month. The launching event was graced by the presence of Her Excellency Saida Muna Tasneem, High Commissioner of the People's Republic of Bangladesh to the United Kingdom; Honourable Justice Ashraful Kamal of the High Court Division of Supreme Court of Bangladesh; and Professor Robert Hope from the REACH Water programme at the University of Oxford. Ms. Rebecca Hope from the School of Geography and Environment, University of Oxford and Mr. Mohammad Golam Sarwar, Lecturer, Department of Law, University of Dhaka and also the Consultant of this project represented the translation team.
The panelists included Mahfuz Anam, Editor and Publisher, The Daily Star; Advocate Manzill Murshid, President, Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh and lawyer for the case; Mr. Sharif Jamil, Secretary, BAPA and Dr. Erin O'Donnell, University of Melbourne and water law specialist. The panel was chaired by Ms. Sharmeen Murshid, Member, National River Conservation Commission.
In her welcome remarks Ms. Peters stated that a widespread commitment to enact law and practice rule of law is essential to effectively implement the judgment. Mr. Golam Sarwar shed light on the significant aspects of the judgment which included the historical, economic literary and cultural aspects of rivers and the need for effective participation of implementing stakeholders such as the NRCC. Professor Hope opined that it is important to understand who is interacting with the rivers and who is at most risks so that early and preventative action may be undertaken.
Her Excellency Saida Muna Tasneem stated that the historic verdict coming coincides with the great political commitment of saving the rivers and the advocacy by the Honorable Prime Minister of Bangladesh. Honorable Justice Ashraful Kamal shed light on the impact of climate change on future generations and urged for law and policymakers to play an active role for the preservation of nature.
Mahfuz Anam stressed on the importance of proper implementation of existing laws and opined that destroying the rivers is basically destroying our future. Mr. Sharif Jamil and Advocate Manzill Murshid discussed the need for coordinated effort and the role of public interest litigation respectively. Professor O'Donnell shed light on the importance of community engagement.
The remarks by the speakers and panelists were followed by a lively and interactive Q&A session.
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