The High Court on Tuesday issued a ruling against the managing director of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited (TGTDCL) and chairman of Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB) for not complying with its order.
In the ruling, the court asked the officials to explain as to why a contempt of court proceeding should not be initiated against them as their organisations have restored electricity and gas connections to the industries those are polluting water of the Buriganga river violating a court order.
The respondents have been asked to comply with the ruling within two weeks.
The High Court bench of Justice Gobinda Chandra Tagore and Justice Mohammad Ullah passed the order after holding hearing on a writ petition filed in this regard by a rights organisation, Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB).
Advocate Manzill Murshid took part in the hearing on behalf of HRPB, while Advocate Amatul Karim represented the environment department.
Mr Murhsid said the electricity and gas connections of the industries were cut off following the direction of the High Court as those were operating without the permission. But later their electricity and gas connections were restored and the factories were polluting the river again.
Under the circumstances a contempt of court petition was placed before the court against the managing director of TGTDCL and chairman of BREB.
After hearing, the court passed order and issued ruling against the officials.
Meanwhile, the court also ordered the director general of the environment department to take appropriate action against the accused owners of the industries within seven days in the cases filed by the environment department and to submit a report to the court.
Following a petition the High Court on January 03 this year directed the concerned bodies of the government to file cases against 30 washing plants which are responsible for polluting water of the Buriganga river near Keraniganj area.
Dhaka district office of the environment department had been asked to file the cases within 30 days against the accused organisations.
But the environment department filed only three cases with the Keraniganj Police Station on February 01 this year, said Advocate Manzill Murshid.
Though three cases have been registered, the accused have not been arrested yet, said the lawyer in the court praying its direction upon the director general of the environment department to take legal action against the persons who have been sued.
Environment department recently submitted a report in the court saying that a total of 30 washing plants are polluting water of the Buriganga river near Keraniganj area.
The plants are Ahmad Hossain Washing, Amena Washing, Sunmoon Washing, Eden Washing, Bismillah Washing, Lotus Washing, Global Washing, Rubel Washing, Anushka Washing, Satota Washing, Chanchal Washing, Abdur Rob Washing, Dhaka Washing, Azan Washing, New Sahara Washing.
The list also included the names of Dohar Washing, Relative Washing, Newnasha Washing, Unique Washing, Mou Washing, Setu Washing, Quality Washing, Juena Washing, Kamal Washing, Water Color Washing, Perjoar Washing, GM Washing, Cumilla Washing, Achia Washing and Lili Washing.
