HC seeks list of encroachers of 5 Sunamganj canals

The High Court today wanted a detailed list of existing encroachers of five canals in Sunamganj and directed the government to evict the land grabbers and remove harmful structures.

In response to a writ petition, the court ordered the authorities concerned with the government to demarcate the five canals' boundaries as per the original flow of their water.

The canals which are flowing through Sunamganj town are—Teghoria, Boropara, Kamar, Bolaikhali and Noluakhali.

The government officials concerned have been asked to prepare the detailed list of the encroachers of the canals, evict them, demarcate the boundaries and submit compliance reports to the HC in six months.

At the same time, the HC issued a rule asking the officials to explain why their inaction to protect the canals from encroachment should not be declared illegal and against the public interest.

The HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Ahmed Sohel delivered the orders and issued the rule after hearing a writ petition filed as public interest litigation filed by Bangladesh Environment Lawyers Association (Bela), seeking necessary directives to protect and save the canals.

Lawyer Mohammad Ashraf Ali accompanied by lawyer S Hasanul Banna appeared for the writ petitioner during the hearing of the petition.