HC seeks report on steps to remove hazardous wastes

The High Court yesterday wanted to know about the steps taken to remove hazardous wastes from different areas of Sunamganj including Gobindaganj, Soidergaon union, Railgate, Sohitpur and Nutonbazar area of Gobindaganj point.

In response to a writ petition, the court ordered deputy commissioner of Sunamganj and its Zila Parishad chairman, upazila nirbahi officer and upazila chairman of Chhatak and chairmen of Chhatak's union parishads to submit separate reports on the steps taken before the court within 60 working days.

At the same time, the HC issued a rule asking concerned government authorities to show causes for why they should not be directed to remove the harmful wastes from those areas of Sunamganj under the Waste Management Rules, 2021.

The HC bench of Justice Mohammad Ullah and Justice AKM Rabiul Hassan came up with the directive and rule following a writ petition filed by Aiyub Karam Ali, a resident from Sunamganj, and Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), seeking necessary directives to this effect.

They submitted the petition as a public interest litigation, following a report under a headline "Chhatak: Moilar Durgondhe Pothhocharira Atistho" published on the daily Bhorer Kagoj on July 15.

During the hearing, petitioners' lawyer Aynunnahar Siddiqua told the court that the Waste Management Rules, 2021 has been formulated under the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995 in order to control and mitigate environmental pollution.

But the rules are not being executed properly resulting in damage to health and environment, the lawyer said.

Lawyer Md Nazmul Karim also appeared for the petitioners while Deputy Attorney General Amit Talukder represented the state during the hearing.