Take steps to halt fast losing of farmland: HC

The High Court (HC) on Tuesday directed the authorities concerned to form an expert committee for formulating a policy to halt the fast reduction of agricultural lands and the use of those in non-farm activities. The court also issued a rule asking the government authorities concerned to explain why their inaction in protecting the agricultural lands should not be declared illegal. In its rule, the HC also wanted to know why the government’s failures in taking necessary steps in formulating an effective law to implement the objectives of the National Land Use Policy (2001) should not be declared illegal. The Cabinet Secretary, the Lands Secretary, the Planning Secretary, the Agriculture Secretary, the Foods Secretary and two others have been made respondents to the rule. The HC bench of Justice Salma Masud Chowdhury and Justice Md Habibul Gani came up with the rule and order after a hearing on a petition lodged in the form of public interest litigation (PLO) , according to a news agency.