Welcome HC orders

The High Court's direction to the authorities to immediately stop operating 22 brickfields and 20 saw mills in a reserved Lohagara forest area in Chittagong district is a laudatory move. This bears testimony to HC's intervention in securing protection of forest, environment and biodiversity against predators in different shape or form.
We also take the opportunity of congratulating Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers' Association (Bela) on its filing a writ petition to the HC based on violation of Forest Act 1927 by the brickfields and Sawmills Rules 1998 by the other category of offenders. The pertinent question is: How could the ministries of environment and forest and Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) permit setting up of those brickfields and saw mills in a reserved forest area in the first place?
By that one yardstick, the kilns and mills were illegal, let alone the provisions of the Forest Act and Sawmill Rules which have been violated. Whilst setting these up many trees must have been felled and also for operating these industries more trees must have been destroyed. In all, environment and biodiversity have received a setback for some years.
The High Court directive can be read in two parts: First, this calls for a closure of the 22 brickfields and 20 saw mills. Secondly, the concerned ministries have been asked to be cautious in issuing licences and clearance certificates without which such business could not have kicked in at all.
The problem, therefore, must be struck at its root with an application of the relevant laws and rules that the government agencies are obliged to take recourse to at all times. Besides, such potential for collusive activity cannot be allowed to exist because it spawns corruption aside from inviting dangers to environment, ecology and indigenous habitat.