HC seeks explanation on steps taken by authorities to check felling of trees

The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a rule asking the government to explain why the concerned authorities should not be directed to form committees at separate levels to prevent felling of trees across the country to save the environment.

The HC bench of Justice Md Khasruzzaman and Justice KM Zahid Sarwar passed the order after hearing a writ petition.

The HC also wanted to know why the inaction of the respondents in taking steps to stop felling of trees should not be declared illegal and why no guidelines should be issued to stop felling of trees in the districts and upazilas.

It was also asked why guidelines should not be issued to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to constitute a seven-member committee comprising environmentalists, environmental scientists, professors of environmental sciences from University of Dhaka and Jahangirnagar University within seven days to prevent trees from ending up in nature. to cut.

It also wanted to know why guidelines should not be issued to the Public Administration Ministry to issue a circular within seven days to constitute committees headed by the Deputy Commissioner and comprising a District Environment Officer, Principal of Government College, social worker, environmentalists and president of the district bar. Association and Civil Surgeon.

It also asked why guidelines should not be issued to form committees headed by the Upazila Nirbahi officer to stop felling of trees in Upazilas.

Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Secretary of Local Government, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, Mayors of the Two City Corporations in Dhaka, General Manager of The Two City Corporations , Chief Forest Conservator, Chief Engineer of Roads and Highways Division and Inspector General of Police, were made subject to the rule.

Lawyer Manzil Murshid said that the amount of greenery required to live in Dhaka city is decreasing day by day and due to the rise in temperature, people’s lives have become miserable and thus people’s right to live well is becoming serious hindered.