Realise compensation from Pran Agro Ltd

The High Court yesterday directed the government to immediately take steps to stop dumping of wastes into the Narod river in Natore and its pollution.
In response to a writ petition, the court ordered the authorities concerned to assess how much damage of the river occurred due to dumping of wastes by the factories of Pran Agro Ltd.
The authorities also have been asked to realise compensation from Pran Agro Ltd for damaging the river, and submit a report to it after complying with the order in four weeks.
The court also issued a rule upon the government authorities and Pran Agro Ltd to explain in four weeks why they should not be directed to relocate the factories to other places to stop the pollution.
The High Court bench of Justice Mirza Hussain Haider and Justice Muhammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar came up with the order and rule after hearing the writ petition filed by Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela).
The organisation filed the petition on Sunday saying that the factories of Pran Agro Ltd have been dumping wastes into the river Narod at Sadar upazila of the district and polluting its environment.
The company has been running the factories without establishing effluent treatment plants to save the river from pollution, it said.
Bela prayed to the court to pass necessary orders to save the river from pollution.
Iqbal Kabir Lytton appeared for the petitioner.