The High Court on Suday asked the government about steps taken in implementing Medical Waste Management and Processing Rules 2008.   A virtual bench of Justice JBM Hasan passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed in the form of public litigation.   The secretary of the forest and environment ministry has been asked to submit the report to the court by August 10.   At the same time, the court has fixed August 12 for the next order.   Barrister Mohammad Humayun Pallab appeared for the writ petitioners and he was assisted by Barrister Mohammad Kawsar while Deputy Attorney General Debashish Bhattacharya and Assistant Attorney General Mohammad Saiful Alam represented the state.   Environment researcher Dr Anika Ali and Barrister Pallab filed the writ petition with the concerned bench of the High Court on July 14 on behalf of the human rights organisation Law and Life Foundation.

A good number of hospitals in the city keep dumping medical wastes in the open ignoring their consequences on the environment and human health.   Locals alleged the situation has come this far as there is no regulation for proper medical waste management.   Alhough the Ministry of Environment and Forests formulated a draft regulation in 2008, it has not been finalised yet.   According to Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC), a total of 101 hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centers are operating in the city.   NCC sources said City Corporation and Prism Bangladesh Foundation signed an agreement for proper management of medical wastes. Besides, the NCC directed all the hospitals and clinics to sign contracts with Prism for proper disposal of medical wastes.