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DHAKA, May 14, 2025(BSS) - The High Court today instructed the authorities concerned to make a list of the grabbers and polluters of Haridaya River in Narsingdi.

The High Court bench comprising Justice Md Akram Hossain Chowdhury and Justice Debashish Ray Chowdhury passed the order after hearing a writ and issued a rule in this regard.

Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) filed the writ before the court in public interest.

The court instructed the Chairman of National River Conservation Commission, Director General (DG) of the Directorate of Environment, DG, Bangladesh Water Development Board, Deputy Commissioner of Narsingdi and Deputy Director of the DoE, Narsingdi to make the list immediately.
 
The court also gave another instruction to set up wastage refinery centres and anti pollution equipments on the bank of the river and constitute an expert panel comprising the representatives from the concerned statutory public authorities.

The High Court bench also instructed the Chairman of the National River Conservation Commission to form a committee for full time monitoring of the overall progress in this regard. 

It also instructed the DG Environment and its Deputy Director, Narsingdi to test the quality of the water of the river regularly.

The court also instructed the concerned authorities to submit the progress report in these regards within three months.

The court issued the rule asking to know why the failure in protecting the river from the grabbers and its pollution should not be declared as unconstitutional, illegal and against public interest. 

Besides, the court instructed to determine the area of the river as per CS, RS Map and its main flow, eviction of illegal encroachers and harmful establishments and identify the sources of pollution.

It also instructed the authorities concerned to declare the river as environmentally critical area and to take measures to recover, preserve and protect the river.   
        
Advocate S Hassanul Banna moved for the petitioner (BELA) while Deputy Attorney General Mahfuzur Rahman Milon stood for the state.