HC asks for addresses of ex-industries secretaries
The High Court yesterday directed the establishment secretary to submit by July 2 the present addresses of former industries secretaries and directors general (DGs) of the Department of Environment (DoE) who are responsible for not complying with a HC order delivered in 2001 to check industrial pollution.
The HC bench of Justice ABM Khairul Haque and Justice Mamtazuddin Ahmed gave the direction upon a petition filed by Advocate Manzill Murshid, a Supreme Court lawyer, on behalf of Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB).
Murshid told The Daily Star yesterday that the HC direction will pave the way for filing a contempt of court petition against the former industries secretaries and DGs of the DoE who did not take steps to check industrial pollution even after the HC order.
Meanwhile, the HC bench also started delivering judgement on the writ petition filed by HRPB seeking directions on the authorities concerned to take steps to prevent encroachment, earth-filling and construction of illegal structures on the rivers surrounding the capital.
The court will continue to deliver the verdict today.
On June 8, the deputy commissioners (DCs) of Dhaka, Narayanganj, Gazipur and Munshiganj assured the HC bench that they would conduct a survey to demarcate the rivers and identify the encroachers.
On April 28, Murshid filed a contempt of court petition against the incumbent industries secretary and DG of the DoE for not taking measures to prevent industrial pollution.
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