An environmentalist organization has filed a writ petition in the High Court seeking redress as the cutting of trees continues in the country despite intense fire. The hearing on this application was held on Monday.
On behalf of Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh—HRPB, Advocate Manzil Morsed filed the writ petition in the relevant branch of the High Court on Sunday (May 5).
The petition sought five directions. These are—
- To control tree felling, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has within 7 days formed a seven-member committee consisting of environmentalists, ecologists, professors of environmental science departments of Dhaka University and Jahangirnagar University, who will allow tree cutting in Dhaka city if necessary.
- The Ministry of Public Administration will issue a circular within 7 days to stop felling of trees and direct the formation of a committee comprising of District Environment Officer, Principal of Government College, Social Worker, Environmentalist, President/Secretary of District Bar Association and Civil Surgeon headed by District Commissioner, without whose permission trees cannot be felled. .
- Ministry of Public Administration issued a circular within 7 days to stop tree cutting under the leadership of Upazila Nirbahi Officer; A committee comprising the college principal, social worker, environmentalist, social welfare officer, assistant commissioner of land and executive engineer of LGED will be instructed to form a committee, without whose permission no trees can be cut.
- Until the formation of the committee, all the defendants will take appropriate measures to ensure that no trees are cut in their respective areas and submit a report to the court within two weeks.
- Why the inaction of the defendants to stop tree felling should not be declared illegal, why should not be ordered to stop tree felling in other districts and upazila cities including Dhaka city, and why should the provisions of social forestry rules-2004 be attached to the provision of payment to the contracting parties for planting trees? It will not be given — a rule is sought to that effect.
The writ petitioners on behalf of HRPB are—Advocate Charwar Ahad Chowdhury, Advocate Ekhlach Uddin Bhuiyan and Advocate Ripon Barai.
Cabinet Division Secretary, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, Secretary to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Secretary to the Ministry of Local Government, Senior Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Secretary to the Department of Road Transport and Highways, Director General of the Environment Department, Dhaka North South City Corporation Mayor, Dhaka North South City Corporation Chief Executive Officer, Chief Engineer of LGED, Chief Conservator of Forests, Chief Engineer of Roads and Highways Department and Inspector General of Bangladesh Police have been made respondents in the writ petition.
In this regard, Manzil Morsed said, “The number of plants required for healthy living in Dhaka city is decreasing day by day and the living conditions of people are becoming more miserable due to the increase in temperature recently. Because of this, the right to live properly is being violated.
