The High Court has directed the authorities concerned to take effective measures to mitigate air pollution in Dhaka and implement nine previous directives within seven days.
HC Orders Authorities to Address Dhaka's Air Pollution in Seven Days
The High Court today (Jan 120 directed the concerned authorities to take immediate and effective measures to curb air pollution in Dhaka and implement nine previously issued directives within seven days.
The bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debashish Roy Chowdhury issued the order apart from asking authorities for the submission of a compliance report to the court by January 26.
Senior Advocate Manzil Morshed, representing the petitioner, appeared before the court alongside Advocates Sanjay Mondal and Salim Reza.
Deputy Attorney General Tanim Khan represented the state during the proceedings.
The petition, initially filed in 2019 by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB), urged the court to take urgent action to combat Dhaka’s deteriorating air quality.
Following the petition, the court had issued a rule and instructed the formation of an expert committee to recommend and enforce preventive measures.
Despite some progress by mid-2023, Dhaka has recently topped global rankings for poor air quality once again.
Advocate Morshed said that the alarming resurgence of pollution was due to lax enforcement of the court's previous instructions.
The court emphasized the importance of enforcing measures such as covering transported soil, sand, and waste, ensuring construction materials are properly secured, and regularly sprinkling water on roads. It also reiterated the need to seize vehicles emitting black smoke, prohibit the operation of vehicles exceeding their permissible lifespan, close illegal brick kilns and unlicensed tire factories, and ensure proper waste disposal by markets and shops through the city corporation.
According to Advocate Morshed, while some directives had been partially implemented, persistent failures in enforcement have allowed air pollution to escalate to critical levels once again, prompting the court to demand swift and comprehensive action.
BDST: 1438 HRS, JAN 12, 2025
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