Six govt high ups summoned for noncompliance

The High Court yesterday summoned eight people, including six government high officials, to appear before it on November 22 for not submitting to it a report over stopping extraction of groundwater and dumping waste into agricultural land in Chittagong's Patia.

The eight are chairman of National River Protection Commission, director general of Bangladesh Water Development Board, chief engineer of the Department of Public Health and Engineering and its assistant engineer, Patia upazila chairman, and the upazila nirbahi officer and assistant commissioner of land, and chairman of Habilas Dweep union of Patia.

Following a writ petition filed by Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association, the HC on January 29 ordered some factories to stop such malpractice.

The court directed the officials and the representatives of people concerned to monitor whether its order is followed and to submit a report after complying with the order in four weeks.

The HC also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned of the government and the factories to explain their hazardous and polluting operations.

It also issued a rule asking the eight to explain as to why contempt of court proceedings should not be brought against them, Bela sources said.