“Conduct drives to shut down illegal brick kilns in Dhaka, Munshiganj, Gazipur, Manikganj and N’ganj within 15 days”

Identify causes of air pollution in capital

High Court issues set of directives to govt

Against the backdrop of Dhaka being ranked the worst in the Air Quality Index (AQI), the High Court (HC) yesterday expressed grave concerns and issued a set of directives to identify the causes of air pollution and formulate a guideline to reduce it in and around the capital. In its directive, the HC bench ordered the government to set up a high-powered committee, headed by the environment secretary ,to assess the reasons for air pollution in the capital. The committee will include the chief executive officers of Dhaka North City Corporation and Dhaka South City Corporation, the managing director of Dhaka Water Supply & Sewerage Authority (DWASA), and representatives from Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and Dhaka Electric Supply Company Limited (DESCO). An expert may also be included on the committee, if needed. The committee has been asked to formulate guidelines to reduce air pollution in and around Dhaka city. The court asked the committee to submit its recommendations before the bench within 30 days and scheduled a further hearing on January 5, 2020.

The HC bench also ordered the government to conduct mobile court drives to shut down illegal brick kilns in five districts within 15 days to bring down air pollution levels. The five districts are Dhaka, Narayanganj, Gazipur, Munshiganj, and Manikganj. It also asked the authorities to take steps to remove dust from flyovers and areas undergoing development. It directed the authorities concerned to spray water in “dust-prone” areas, as well as on trees and buildings on city roads twice a day.

The HC bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader issued the directives after hearing a supplementary writ petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB), a rights organisation.

Advocate Manzill Murshid appeared for HRPB, while deputy attorney general Barrister ABM Abdullah Al Mahmud Bashar represented the state. The capital has the worst air quality in the world, according to Air Visual, an application that measures air quality.

Barrister Bashar said: “The World Bank and the environment department reported recently on air pollution in Dhaka city where brick fields were identified as the number one reason for air pollution. Another report prepared by a Norwegian expert said the brick fields cause 52 per cent of Dhaka city’s air pollution. That is why the HC has ordered the setting up of mobile courts to pursue legal proceedings against illegal brick fields.” The writ petition filed by HRPB on January 27 attached media reports on air pollution in Dhaka. On January 28, the HC ordered the Department of Environment (DoE) to conduct mobile court drives twice a week to take legal action against those responsible for air pollution in the capital. The court also asked the government to explain why the local administration’s inaction should not be declared illegal. The rule is currently pending with the HC for disposal. Before the final hearing of the rule, the HRPB filed a supplementary petition with the HC yesterday seeking a remedy to the air pollution problem.

“Conduct drives to shut down illegal brick kilns in Dhaka, Munshiganj, Gazipur, Manikganj and Nganj within 15 days”

Identify causes of air pollution in capital

High Court issues set of directives to govt

Against the backdrop of Dhaka being ranked the worst in the Air Quality Index (AQI), the High Court (HC) yesterday expressed grave concerns and issued a set of directives to identify the causes of air pollution and formulate a guideline to reduce it in and around the capital. In its directive, the HC bench ordered the government to set up a high-powered committee, headed by the environment secretary ,to assess the reasons for air pollution in the capital. The committee will include the chief executive officers of Dhaka North City Corporation and Dhaka South City Corporation, the managing director of Dhaka Water Supply Sewerage Authority (DWASA), and representatives from Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and Dhaka Electric Supply Company Limited (DESCO). An expert may also be included on the committee, if needed. The committee has been asked to formulate guidelines to reduce air pollution in and around Dhaka city. The court asked the committee to submit its recommendations before the bench within 30 days and scheduled a further hearing on January 5, 2020. The HC bench also ordered the government to conduct mobile court drives to shut down illegal brick kilns in five districts within 15 days to bring down air pollution levels. The five districts are Dhaka, Narayanganj, Gazipur, Munshiganj, and Manikganj. It also asked the authorities to take steps to remove dust from flyovers and areas undergoing development. It directed the authorities concerned to spray water in dust-prone areas, as well as on trees and buildings on city roads twice a day. The HC bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader issued the directives after hearing a supplementary writ petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB), a rights organisation. Advocate Manzill Murshid appeared for HRPB, while deputy attorney general Barrister ABM Abdullah Al Mahmud Bashar represented the state. The capital has the worst air quality in the world, according to Air Visual, an application that measures air quality. Barrister Bashar said: The World Bank and the environment department reported recently on air pollution in Dhaka city where brick fields were identified as the number one reason for air pollution. Another report prepared by a Norwegian expert said the brick fields cause 52 per cent of Dhaka citys air pollution. That is why the HC has ordered the setting up of mobile courts to pursue legal proceedings against illegal brick fields. The writ petition filed by HRPB on January 27 attached media reports on air pollution in Dhaka. On January 28, the HC ordered the Department of Environment (DoE) to conduct mobile court drives twice a week to take legal action against those responsible for air pollution in the capital. The court also asked the government to explain why the local administrations inaction should not be declared illegal. The rule is currently pending with the HC for disposal. Before the final hearing of the rule, the HRPB filed a supplementary petition with the HC yesterday seeking a remedy to the air pollution problem.