The Hon’ble High Court of Bangladesh has ordered to close 231 factories without environmental clearance

-Tahsin Taha (Student, Dept. of Law,
North-South University, BD)

The Hon’ble High court has ordered to close 231 factories set up on the banks of the river Buriganga due to the lack of environmental clearances, including river pollution.

The Hon’ble High Court bench comprising of two members headed by Justice Govinda Chandra Tagore has issued the order after hearing a petition filed by the Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) on Monday (January 20, 2020).

It is learned that the court has asked the authority of Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) and other three organizations to submit a progress report regarding these after taking actions against these factories by 22 February 2020.

The order states that after receiving the letter from the environment department at the factory closure, the court has instructed Dhaka WASA, Titas, and DPDC to disconnect the water supply, electricity, and gas lines of those factories.

And the Environmental Department of Bangladesh has been instructed to submit a report to the court after taking action regarding this by February 20.