The High Court on Sunday issued a status quo on a government move for felling trees on the roadside to implement a project to upgrade the Jashore-Narail highway to a six-lane one.
The status quo will remain effective until tender process is called for the project, according to the court order.
High Court bench of Justice Md Khasruzzaman and Justice K M Zahid Sarwar passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed by rights organisation Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB).
The organisation represented by three Supreme Court lawyers filed the petition on May 5 seeking HC directive upon the government to issue a status quo on felling trees on the Jahore-Narail highway.
After hearing on the petition, the same HC bench on May 7 this year issued rules questioning the government bodies' inaction to stop cutting trees.
After detailed hearing on the petition, the HC bench now issued the status quo.
Lawyer Manzill Murshid and others appeared in the court hearing on behalf of the petitioners.
During the hearing Mr Manzill Murshid said, "The government has planned to implement a project to upgrade the Jashore-Narail highway to a six-lane one. However, several hundred trees are being felled although ender is yet to be called."
He further said, "The move to fell the trees should be stopped for the interest of countrymen amid the ongoing heatwave. It is possible to upgrade the highway into six lanes without felling the trees and it will benefit the common people."
© 2024 - All Rights with The Financial Express
