The High Court on Thursday ordered the authorities concerned to implement its nine-point directive issued five years ago within 3 weeks to curb air pollution in Dhaka.

The HC bench of Justice Md Rezaul Hasan and Justice Urmee Rahman passed the order after hearing a petition in this regard.

On January 13, 2020, the High Court issued the nine directives following a petition by filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh.

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·        Covering trucks and other vehicles transporting soil/sand/waste in Dhaka city.

·        Covering soil/sand/cement/stones/construction materials in construction areas. 

·         Spraying water on roads by the City Corporations.

·         Ensuring compliance with tender conditions for road/culvert/carpeting/excavation work

·         Confiscating vehicles emitting black smoke.

·          Determining vehicle operation time according to the Road Transport Act and stop vehicles from running after the permitted time.

·          Shutting down illegal brick kilns. 

·         Closing all tire factories operating without an environmental license 

·         Taking steps to ensure that daily waste bags in markets/shops are filled and removed with the City Corporations ensuring this process.

Advocate Manzill Murshid, a lawyer of the human rights organisaiton summited a supplementary petition before the court on Wednesday.

Advocate Manzill Murshid, said air quality in Dhaka had improved due to the adoption of certain measures following the court's directives.

At present, the air quality in Dhaka has become so polluted that various harmful substances in the air are entering people's lungs and increasing health risks in many ways as the defendants are not taking effective steps as per the High Court's instructions, he said.

Referring to information published by a research institution in the media, he said urgent instructions are needed for the defendants to implement nine directives to protect the lives of millions of people in Dhaka.