The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The High Court has given the police department 48 hours to stop earth-filling and encroachment of river Turag.

The court also directed the government authorities to stop earth-filling and encroachment of river Buriganga, Turag, Balu, and Shitalakhya until the ongoing survey of the rivers is completed as per the earlier HC directives.

The HC bench of justices Syed Mahmud Hossain and Kamrul Islam Siddiqui gave the order on a petition filed by advocacy group Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB).

HRPB lawyer Advocate Monjil Morshed filed the petition seeking court orders on the government over the illegal filling and encroachment of the river and action against the perpetrators.

The High Court in October had instructed the government to submit a full report of the sites along Dhaka's rivers, the Turag and Buriganga, where filling and illegal occupation were continuing unabated despite previous court orders.

The Court asked Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Chairman and Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka to visit Turag and Burigranga rivers and submit a report within seven days to the court.

The authorities submitted their report about the condition of the rivers as per the HC directive.

After reviewing the report and hearing the application from HRPB, the HC yesterday came up with the order.

Earlier this year, the HC in separate orders directed the government to demarcate the original territories of the Buriganga, Turag, Balu, and Shitalakhya through a survey to restore the rivers to their original conditions.

The court also ordered to stop encroachment, earth-filling and construction of illegal structures on the rivers.