The High Court on Tuesday issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the authorities concerned should not be directed to form committees at separate levels for preventing tree felling across the country to save the environment.
The HC bench of Justice Md Khasruzzaman and Justice K M Zahid Sarwar passed the order after hearing writ petition.
The HC also wanted to know why the inaction of the respondents in taking steps to stop tree felling should not be declared illegal and why directives should not be given to stop felling trees in the districts and upazilas.
It also asked why directives should not be given to the Ministry of the Environment, Forest and Climate Change to formulate seven-member committee comprising of environmentalists, environment scientists, Professors of Environment of Science of Dhaka University and Jahangirnagar University within seven days to prevent tree cutting.
It also wanted to know why directives should not be given to the Public Administration Ministry to issue a circular within 7 days to form committees headed by Deputy Commissioner and comprising District Environment officer, Principal of Government College, social worker, environmentalists, President of District Bar Association and Civil Surgeon.
It also asked why directives should not be given to form committees headed by Upazila Nirbahi Officer to stop tree felling in upazilas.
Cabinet secretary, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister’s Office, secretary to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, secretary to the Local Government, Senior Secretary to the Public Administration Ministry, Mayors of the two city corporations in Dhaka, Chief Executive officer of the two city corporations, Chief Forest Conservator, Chief Engineer of Roads and Highways Division and Inspector General of Police were made respondents to the rule.
Advocate Manzil Murshid, said the amount of green needed 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 properly is being seriously hampered.