HC forms committee to protect Halda dolphins

The High Court yesterday formed a committee headed by the deputy commissioner (DC) of Chattogram in order to protect biodiversity, environment, fishes and dolphins of Halda river in the district.

The lawmakers elected from the areas near the banks of the river will act as advisers of the DC-led committee, and the committee will work with advice from the members of parliament, the High Court said in the order.

The High Court bench of Justice Obaidul Hassan came up with the order during the virtual hearing of a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Abdul Qaium Liton, seeking its directives on the authorities concerned of the government to prevent the killing of dolphins and protect them in Halda river.

During yesterday's proceedings, the High Court went through a compliance report submitted by the Department of Environment saying that necessary initiatives have been taken to save the dolphins of Halda river, court sources said.

The court asked the officials concerned of the court to keep the report in court records and set May 28 for further hearing on the issue.

The DoE recently submitted the compliance report to the High Court through email in line with its May 12 directives that asked the authorities concerned to immediately take necessary steps.

In yesterday's order, the High Court asked the DC of Chattogram to include representatives from the DC, superintendent of police, naval police, coast guard, DoE, fisheries, water development board and forest office in Chattogram, upazila nirbahi officers of Hathazari and Ramnagar of the district, and representatives from Marine Science and Fisheries Facility of Chattogram in the committee to protect biodiversity, environment, fishes and dolphins of Halda River.

Abdul Qaium said in the writ petition that 24 dolphins in Halda river  were killed since 2017 till date, endangering the environment and ecology, according to a report published on The Daily Star on May 8.