High Court gives authorities 24 hours to stop filling Gumti River in Comilla

The High Court has ordered to stop filling the Gumti River at Muradnagar Upazila in Comilla and construction of a dam across the river within 24 hours.

The bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Abu Taher Md Saifur Rahman issued the order after hearing a writ on Monday.
 
Comilla's deputy commissioner was ordered to file a report on the progress of implementing the previous order within seven days.
 
Legal steps will also have to be taken against those responsible for filling up the river under the Section 8 of the Waterbody Protection Act 2000 within 72 hours.
 
Muradnagar Upazila Nirbahee Officer (UNO) and Muradnagar Police Station OC were asked to submit a report on the steps in an affidavit within May 25.
 
The court also issued a rule asking why the ‘defendant’s inactivity’ to stop the filling of the river should not be declared illegal.
 
It also asked why an order to take steps to protect the river should not be issued.
 
The water resources secretary, environment secretary, Water Development Board director general, Department of Environment director general, Gumti Water Development Board chief engineer, Comilla deputy commissioner, Muradnagar UNO and Muradnagar Police Station OC were ordered to respond to the rule within four weeks.
 
Muradnagar residents Monir Hossain, ‘Taslim’ and Farhadul Alam filed the writ with a new report on the filling of the river.
 
Lawyer Manzill Murshid represented petitioners. Deputy Attorney General Taposh Kumar Biswas argued for the state in the hearing.
 
Murshid said the Environment Conservation Act 1995 and the Waterbody Protection Act 2000 list steps to stop activities destroying the environment.
 
“Even after this, the Gomati River is being filled up with the local administration just spectators.  A dam across the river is also being constructed," he said.
 
“The district administration is not taking steps even after the High Court’s direction. So the petition was filed challenging the inactivity of the defendants and seeking necessary directives over the matter,” he added.