Hazaribagh tannery relocation

Text of SC full verdict released

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has directed 155 Hazaribagh tannery owners to pay Tk 50,000 each to the industries secretary within seven days after receiving the copy of its order.

“The entire amount will be spent on the welfare of tannery labourers,” said the verdict, the full text of which was released yesterday.

The SC, in a verdict on April 9, ordered the government to evict these 155 Hazaribagh tanners and imposed a fine of Tk. 50,000 on each of them for polluting the environment.

Mazill Murshid, the lawyer for the petitioner, told The Independent that he has already received a certified copy of the order. The seven days start from the time the tannery owners receive the copy, he added.

The lawyer said the apex court has, in its order, also directed the tannery owners to settle within a month the  payment of wages and salaries to their workers till the date of the closure of the tanneries.

If the owners fail to pay the outstanding dues, the worker or employees can seek a directive from the High Court for a necessary order, he said, quoting the verdict copy.

A four-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice SK Sinha, passed the order on April 9 this year. It came following three separate petitions filed by the tannery owners against a High Court judgment, which had directed them to pay Tk. 50,000 each per day for damaging the environment.

The SC directed the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) to take the necessary steps so that the waste from the tanneries, which were relocated to Savar from Hazaribagh, could not pollute the Dhaleshwari.

The apex court passed the order after exempting the Hazaribagh tannery owners from paying Tk. 30.85 crore for polluting the environment. The court also relieved them from paying Tk. 10,000 per day as compensation, which was imposed by a previous order.

On March 2, the HC had directed 155 tannery owners to deposit Tk. 30.85 crore with the government within two weeks. 

Hazaribagh tannery relocation

Text of SC full verdict released

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has directed 155 Hazaribagh tannery owners to pay Tk 50,000 each to the industries secretary within seven days after receiving the copy of its order. The entire amount will be spent on the welfare of tannery labourers, said the verdict, the full text of which was released yesterday. The SC, in a verdict on April 9, ordered the government to evict these 155 Hazaribagh tanners and imposed afine of Tk. 50,000 on each of them for polluting the environment. Mazill Murshid, the lawyer for the petitioner, told The Independent that he has already received a certified copy of the order. The seven days start from the time the tannery owners receive the copy, he added. The lawyer said the apex court has, in its order, also directed the tannery owners to settle within a month the payment of wages and salaries to their workers tillthe date of the closure of the tanneries. If the owners fail to pay the outstanding dues, the worker or employees can seek a directive from the High Court for a necessary order, he said, quoting the verdict copy. A four-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice SK Sinha, passed the order on April 9 this year. It came following three separate petitions filed by the tannery owners against a High Court judgment, which had directed them to pay Tk. 50,000 each per day for damaging the environment. The SC directed the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) to take the necessary steps so that the waste from the tanneries, which were relocated to Savar from Hazaribagh, could not pollute the Dhaleshwari. The apex court passed the order after exempting the Hazaribagh tannery owners from paying Tk. 30.85 crore for polluting the environment. The court also relieved them from paying Tk. 10,000 per day as compensation, which was imposed by a previous order. On March 2, the HC had directed 155 tannery owners to deposit Tk. 30.85 crore with the government within two weeks.