Dhaka, Jan 02 – In a verdict, the High Court yesterday observed that any notified forest area, no matter whether it is declared reserved forest or not, could not allocate or lease for any purpose that damages the country’s forest. The HC bench came up with the observation while delivering a verdict that declared illegal a lease agreement under which the deputy commissioner of Chattogram issued the lease of 7.1 acres notified forest area at Uttar Salimpur in Shitakunda to BBC Steel on March 21 last year.
After disposing of a writ petition, the HC bench comprising Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Khandakar Diliruzzaman came up with the verdict.
On March 21, deputy commissioner of Chattogram issued the lease of 7.1 acres notified forest area at Uttar Salimpur in Shitakunda to BBC Steel.
Soon after getting the lease, the company cut some trees there and built a road in order to establish a ship-breaking yard at the area.
On April 28, Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) filed the writ petition with the HC challenging the legality of the lease agreement.
On May 13 last year, after a preliminary hearing on the petition, the HC issued a rule asking the authorities concerned of the government and BBC Steel to explain why the lease agreement should not be declared illegal.
The court also directed the authorities to stop the activities for making the ship breaking yard at the area.
After holding a final hearing on the rule, the court yesterday delivered the verdict.
Advocate Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Minhajul Haque Chowdhury and Advocate Sayeed Ahmed Kabir appeared for the writ petitioner while Barrister Mehedi Hasan Chowdhury represented BBC Steel. – Staff Reporter
