Staff Reporter :
The High Court on Tuesday directed the concerned bodies of the government to identify and prepare a list of the works, which are sources of major air pollution across the country, and to prepare a time bound mitigation plan for the same.
In response to a writ petition, the HC also asked the government bodies to set up air quality monitoring system in appropriate places and to introduce a system of alert to save people from exposure to unhealthy, very unhealthy and dangerous air.
The authorities concerned have also been directed to develop an action plan about switching to alternate way of burning bricks and to submit a report to the HC after complying with the directives in four months.
The High Court Bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice SM Maniruzaaman passed the order with rule after hearing a writ petition filed by a rights organisation, Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), seeking necessary directives on the issue.
In the rule the High Court wanted to know from the respondents to explain as to why their failure to mitigate air pollution and protect public health shall not be declared without lawful authority.
It also wanted to know in the rule as to why they shall not be directed to reduce air pollution and improve air quality through a time bound action plan identifying every concrete actions required and ensuring proper coordination, monitoring and enforcement.
Cabinet secretary, senior secretary of the local government division of LGRD ministry, environment secretary, industries secretary, public works secretary, health secretary, road transport and bridges secretary, finance secretary, Dhaka North City Corporation mayor, Dhaka South City Corporation mayor, director general of the department of environment, chairman of Rajuk and other respondents have been asked to comply with the rule.
Lawyer Syeda Rizwana Hasan appeared in the court hearing on behalf of the BELA, while Deputy Attorney General Samarendra Nath Biswas represented the State.
According to the writ petition, “Dhaka has been on the top of the world in terms of air pollution since the beginning of 2022. According to a research report titled ‘Air Quality Life Index’ published by the Energy Policy Institute of the University of Chicago, the average life expectancy in Bangladesh has decreased by about five years and four months and in Dhaka by about seven years and seven months due to air pollution.”
“According to air quality watchdog Air Visual, Dhaka topped the list of 100 cities in the world for eight days in January, this year. Even in such a situation, the city dwellers are continuing their normal activities without any health warning and also consuming polluted air,” also read the petition.
