High Court Directed to operate mobile court at Shampur, Demra, area in every alternative week in order to take legal action against the owner and management of the industries in that area who are liable for discharging industries waste or chemical use water in the river Buriganga. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A public interest litigation was filled by Human Rights And Peace For Bangladesh challenging inaction of the respondents to take necessary steps to stop pollution of water of River Buriganga which is caused by untreated waste thrown in the river and release of chemical mixed water from different industries at Shampur, Demra.

Learned Advocate Manzill Murshid submitted before the court that water of the river Buriganga is always polluted by the industrial waste violating the provision of law but the respondents are silent.

After hearing the parties the Hon’ble High Court Division comprising of Mr. Justice Quazi Reza Ul Huq and Mr. Justice A.B.M. Altaf Hossain was pleased to issue Rule Nisi calling upon the Respondents to show cause as to why inaction of the respondent to take necessary steps to stop pollution of water of River Buriganga which is caused by untreated waste thrown in the river and release of chemical mixed water from different industries at Shampur, Demra, Dhaka, should not be declared illegal and without lawful authority and why a direction should not be given upon the respondents to take necessary steps to stop pollution of water of River Buriganga at Shampur Demra area by way of Effective measures.

Their Lordships also passed the following ad-interim order;-

i) Pending hearing of the Rule direct the Respondent no. 9-10 to deploy police force for continuous monitoring on the bank of river at Shampur area so that no industries waste/chemical use water can be thrown / emptying into the river in any manner and take legal action against the violators who pollute water of river Buriganga.

ii) Pending hearing of the rule direct the respondent No. 1 to form a monitoring committee consisting of members of District Administration, BIWTA and Directorate of Environment and Ministry of industries to monitor and take effective steps to stop industries waste in to river Burigonga at Shampur, Demra, Dhaka.

iii) Pending hearing of the rule direct the respondent No. 4-5 and 7-8 to take steps to stop industries waste discharge within river Buriganga at Shampur area, Demra, within 48 hours and submits a progresses report within 10 days before this court.

iv) Pending hearing of the rule direct the respondent No. 8 to operate mobile court at Shampur, Demra, area in every alternative week in order to take legal action against the owner and management of the industries in that area who are liable for discharge industries waste or chemical use water in the river Burigonga at Shampur, Demra, Dhaka, and submit a compliance report within 7 days before this court.

The petitioners are Advocate Asaduzzaman Siddiqui. Respondents are the Secretary, Ministry of Shipping, Ministry of Industries, The Chairman, BIWTA,The Director General, Department of Environment, The Director, Enforcement, Department of Environment, The Police Commissioner, Dhaka Metropolitan Police, The Director (Port and Traffic), BIWTA, The Deputy commissioner, Dhaka, The Officer in Charge (O.C), Shampur, The Officer in Charge (O.C.), Demra Thana .

Advocate Manzill Murshid moved on behalf of the petitioners and DAG Biswajit Roy was for the government.

Press release by-
HRPB