HC pulls for Bhola forest
The High Court yesterday issued a three-month injunction against felling of nearly 15,000 trees in the forest and wildlife reserve on Kukri Mukri char to construct a road to link the island with Bhola.
The court gave a ruling upon the respondents to show cause why the environment and forest ministry's letter issued on May 16 to allow felling of trees shall not be declared illegal.
The HC directive came after Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) filed a writ petition yesterday seeking a court order to prevent cutting of trees on the island.
An HC division bench of justices Syed Mahmud Hossain and Govindo Chandra Thakur asked the respondents to reply why the government agencies should not be directed to protect the forest from adverse and contrary activities such as felling of trees.
In 2005, the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) initiated a plan to clear part of the forest on the island to construct a road to link the island with the mainland.
But the plan was stalled the same year following opposition from the forest department and issuance of a letter of objection from the environment and forest ministry.
The forest department said if the proposed road was constructed clearing part of the forest, illegal logging would become rampant there.
However, a local lawmaker revived the plan and got it approved at a meeting of the Upazila Unnayan Samonnoy Committee in October last year.
The objections against the plan were purportedly withdrawn on the plea that the road is needed to rescue the islanders in case of a natural disaster.
The petitioner pleaded that there had been no assessment of environmental impact of the proposed road. Besides, the ministry's deviation from its earlier stance was highly subjective and done under political consideration.
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