The High Court has ordered the government to take steps against five readymade garment factories in Savar for polluting the Karnaparha canal and the farmlands of Ashulia, a lawyer says.
The bench of justices AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury and Gobinda Chandra Tagore on Sunday gave the order upon a petition by Bangladesh Environment Lawyers' Association.
Lawyer for the petitioner Iqbal Kabir Liton told the news agency that the court had ordered the units temporarily shut but he later said the court only asked for action against them.
The court directed the government to explain why the activities of the factories should not be declared illegal and against public interest.
The judges also asked the government to report back to the court in three months with an assessment of how much damage these apparel units had done to the arable lands and canal.
The land secretary, the environment secretary, the industries secretary and 10 others were asked to come up with their explanation within four weeks.
Authorities have been asked to report within three months assessing how much damage these apparel units have done to the arable land and canal.
The factories are Mojrat Knitting and Dyeing, Tajul Garments, Nasirullah Cotton Mills, Apparel Village Ltd and Simtex Industries Ltd.
Source : New Age
