Mark river Dwaki as ecologically critical
HC directs govt
The High Court yesterday directed the government to declare river Dwaki at Jaflong in Sylhet as an ecologically critical area within a month to protect its ecosystem.
The court also directed the authorities concerned to remove a bridge, constructed over the river for carrying quarried stones, and its approach road within 15 days.
The HC bench of Justice Mirza Hussain Haider and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo came up with the verdict after hearing a writ petition filed by Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers' Association (Bela).
The petition, filed in December last year, said some stone businessmen constructed the bridge over the river for shifting quarried stones without taking permission from the government and assessing environmental impacts.
The bridge and its adjacent road were damaging the ecology in the area, it said.
Bela requested the court to remove the bridge and the road to protect the ecosystem of river Dwaki and the livelihoods of the people living adjacent to it.
Advocate Iqbal Kabir Lytton appeared for Bela while advocate AJ Mohammad Ali argued for stone businessmen.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments