FE REPORT
The High Court has voiced its serious concern over Dhaka's air quality and asked the government to take effective steps within seven days to prevent air pollution in the capital.
It also asked the government to comply with a nine-point directive issued five years ago to prevent air pollution here and submit a compliance report before this court by January 26.
The HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debasish Roy Chowdhury passed the order after hearing a petition by the Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) years back.
Advocate Manzill Murshid appeared in the court hearing on behalf of the petition, while Deputy Attorney General Md Tanim Khan represented the state.
Following a writ petition filed by the HRPB, the higher court on 13 January 2020 issued a nine-point directive to bring down air pollution level in Dhaka.
It directed the government bodies to seize the vehicles that emit black smoke exceeding limit.
It also sought appropriate steps in one month to stop burning tyres without having an environment licence and stop battery recycling at any place without the environment department's approval.
The court directed the two city corporations to take steps to ensure that all the market owners keep their daily garbage in a safe bag and dump it at a designated place after closedown.
It asked the respondents to spray water mornings and evenings in the areas, which have not been covered till today by the two corporations.
The court ordered to ensure that all trucks plying roads in Dhaka city with sand, mud or waste must use covering.
It directed to shut down illegal brickfields in Dhaka, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Gazipur and Manikganj immediately and submit a report within two months.
Lawyer Murshid said, "The air pollution in Dhaka reduced to some extent after steps were taken to implement the directives issued by this court."
"However, due to failure to continue those steps and implement some directives, the pollution level has reached an extreme level. Dhaka is now one of the top cities in the world in terms of air pollution."
The lawyer said the court has expressed its serious concern about this issue.
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