HC mandates prior approval for tree felling
NN Online:
The High Court (HC) on Tuesday ruled that prior approval from relevant authorities is required before cutting down trees. The order was issued by the HC bench of Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Mubina Asaf following a hearing on a writ petition regarding the matter.
The court also asked the senior secretary of the public administration ministry to form a committee within seven days for taking permission for cutting trees at district level. The committee should comprise an environmentalist, environment expert, professors of the Department of Environmental Science from Dhaka University and Jahangirnagar University.
Deputy commissioners, district environment officer, professor of a government college, social worker, environmentalist, president of general secretary of the district bar association and district civil surgeons must be included in the committee.
In case of upazila level, the court also asked the public administration senior secretary to issue another circular to the deputy commissioners to form another committee within seven days with the Upazila Nirbahi Officers, professors of the government colleges, social worker, environmentalist, Social Worker officer, Assistant Commissioner (land) and executive engineers of LGED.
Besides, according to the Social Forestry Rules 2004, trees planted under this programme cannot be cut down and instead an amount equivalent to the value of the trees must be paid to the owner of the plant.
The court also provided instructions to amend the Social Forestry Rules accordingly.
In its observation, the court said as temperatures continue to rise in the country, it is essential to preserve more trees. Widespread deforestation will disrupt the balance of our environment, undermining our right to live.
The court further said Bangladesh does not have the necessary number of trees required to maintain environmental balance and protecting these trees is critically important for the environment.
On May 5, 2024, a rights organisation named Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB), filed a writ petition seeking steps to stop pollution.
On May 7, last year, the High Court issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why trees cutting in two cities of Dhaka, district and upazila level, should not be declared contradictory to the human rights and why seven-member committee should not be formed in all levels to give permission for cutting trees.