No forest land for shrimp cultivation
Orders HC
The High Court yesterday directed the authorities concerned to refrain from leasing out any coastal reserved forest land in Cox's Bazar for shrimp cultivation.
In response to a writ petition, the HC also ordered the chief conservator of forests to submit a report in this regard before it in four weeks and prohibited the authorities from leasing out the land till then.
The HC bench also issued a rule upon the officials concerned of the government to explain why their decision to lease out the land should not be declared illegal and against the people's interest.
Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela) filed the petition yesterday seeking HC directives on the authorities to protect 7793.54 acres of the reserved forest in Cox's Bazar.
Bela stated in the petition that the Cox's Bazar deputy commissioner (DC) leased out 5,000 acres of the land to 153 people for shrimp cultivation, saying that there are no forests in the land.
Despite objections from the Department of Forests, the DC office continued to lease out the land and sought approval from the Ministry of Land, which gave its permission without holding any scrutiny, read the petition.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments