The High Court has ordered authorities concerned to take ‘effective
steps’ to save Bangladesh’s canals.After an initial hearing of a plea, the bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul
Hoque and Justice ABM Altaf Hossain also issued a rule on Sunday
asking why orders should not be given to save all the canals of the
country in line with the RS or BS survey records.
Asaduzzaman Siddiqui, the plaintiff, has made the Secretaries of LGRD,
Environment, Water Resources, Land, Finance, and Chairman of Water
Development Board defendants in the petition.
The court has also asked them to give necessary directions to
concerned Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police within
seven days to save the canals.
It also asked the defendants to submit a progress report within two weeks.
Manzill Morshed, representing the plaintiff said Bangladesh’s
environment was been continuously damaged due to land encroachments
and filling up of water bodies. He observed that if these continued,
the production of food crops will also be affected.
“The fillings are illegal under the Environment Conservation Act-1995
and Natural Water Body Protection Act-2000,” he added.
