Court Correspondent :
The High Court (HC) Division of the Supreme Court issued a rule asking the government authorities concerned to explain why the lack of environment-friendly policies for planting and cutting of trees and the authorities’ inaction in controlling wildfires should not be declared illegal.
A High Court bench consisting of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Kazi Zinat Haque issued the rule on Monday.
Advocate Tanveer Ahmed submitted the petition as a public interest litigation.
In the rule, the apex court also asked authorities to show causes why their inaction and apathy should not be declared illegal.
Earlier on May 2, lawyer Tanveer Ahmed had sent a legal notice to take immediate necessary steps across the country to reduce heat wave and enact environment-friendly laws, regulations or policies on felling and planting of trees.
The lawyer sent the notice after vernacular daily Ittefaq published two reports on April 24 and 25 on felling 3,000 trees in Kushtia. The notice took note of another report published on the Prothom Alo on April 29, which said 90 percent of Dhaka was in danger due to heat-wave.
Secretary to Environment Ministry, Director General of Environment Department, Chief Conservator of Forests, Director of Dhaka Metropolitan Office under the Department of Environment (DoE) and Divisional Forest Officer in Kushtia were made recipients to the notice.
The recipients have evidently failed in their respective obligations, therefore, proceedings will be initiated against them, if steps, necessary to the rectify the situation, are not taken quickly, the notice added.