Staff Reporter :
The High Court on Tuesday directed the concerned bodies of the government to take necessary steps immediately to prevent killing of the Dolphins in Halda river of Chattogram and to protect them.
The court also asked the director of the department of environment in Chattogram to submit a report in this court through email in 72 hours citing what measures have been taken to prevent killing of the Dolphins in Halda river and to protect them.
Fisheries and Livestock Secretary, Forest and Environment Secretary, Director General of the Department of Environment (DoE), Director of DoE in Chattogram, Deputy Commissioner of Chattogram and Upazila
Nirbahi Officer of Raozan in Chattogram have been asked to take necessary steps to save the Dolphins.
The High Court Bench of Justice Obaidul Hassan passed the order and issued a rule after holding a virtual hearing on a writ petition filed by a Supreme Court lawyer, Barrister Abdul Qaium Liton, seeking necessary directives to protect the Dolphins and environment.
The writ petitioner himself took part in the hearing for the petition while Attorney General Mahbubey Alam, Additional Attorney general Murad Reza, Deputy Attorney General Samarendranath Biswas and Deputy Attorney General Amit Talukder represented the state during the hearing.
This is for the first time in the history of Bangladesh higher judiciary that the High Court heard a writ petition through digital services and passed order.
During the court proceedings, Justice Obaidul Hassan extended thanks to President Md Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain and Law Minister Anisul Huq for launching virtual court functions for hearing and disposing of cases through using information and communication technology.
Virtual court functions are the first step in establishing e-judiciary in the country, the HC judge observed.
Barrister Abdul Qaium filed the writ petition with the High Court on May 11 seeking its directive on the respondents to immediately take necessary steps to prevent killing of the Dolphins in Halda river in Chattogram and to protect them.
He submitted the petition as a public interest litigation through email for its virtual hearing using information technology.
In the petition, the lawyer prayed to the High Court to issue a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain as to why their failure to prevent killing of the Dolphins in Halda river should not be declared illegal.
Abdul Qaium said in the writ petition that total 24 Dolphins in Halda river were killed since 2017 to till date endangering the environment and ecological system.
He said in the petition that a the locals, by taking advantage of lockdown and failure of environment authority as well as law enforcing authorities, are committing this ruthless killing of Doplhins endangering ecological balance of our environment.
