HC asks for scientific reports on modified brinjal
The High Court on Tuesday asked the petitioners and the government to submit scientific reports, if there is any, on whether Bt brinjal is harmful for public health and the environment.
They will have to submit the reports before the court by September 19.
The court asked for the reports after adjourning until September 19 the hearing on a writ petition that challenged a government move to release Bt brinjal for the first time in the country.
During the day's procedure, the petitioner's lawyer Adilur Rahman Khan and Shahidul Islam told the court that the government should not approve the release of the GM crop on commercial purpose as the brinjal is harmful for public health and the environment.
Meanwhile, additional attorney general Mamtazuddin Fakir opposed the petition saying that Bt brinjal is not harmful. Rather, it is very productive crop which does not need insecticides, he added.
He prayed to the court to reject the petition filed by five green activists including an organiser of Naya Krishi Andolon, Farida Akhter.
On July 15, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (Bari) applied to the National Technical Committee for Crop Biotechnology seeking commercial release of Bt brinjal next month.
Earlier, Bangladeshi scientists had readied the country’s first GM crop — brinjal infused with pest-resistant genes — which could see a drastic fall in the use of harmful pesticides in the crop.
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