High Court directs government to appoint 5 executive magistrates at DoE

The High Court on Sunday directed the authority concerned to appoint five executive magistrates at the Department of the Environment (DoE) to use mobile courts to stop environmental pollution.

The High Court has asked the public administration secretary to implement the order within one month, and the director general of the DoE to submit a report on the compliance of the directive by March 10.

A High Court bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Quader passed the order on Sunday.

Earlier, the High Court expressed concern that the Department of the Environment (DoE) has been negligent in taking action to prevent environment pollution.

DoE Director General Dr AKM Rafique Ahammed appeared at court on Sunday after the High Court summoned him on January 13 to explain Dhaka's air quality and the strength of the organisation's manpower.

Dr Ahammed told the High Court that the DoE has taken various steps, including a plan to shut down illegal brick kilns, to prevent environment and air pollution in the country. But the DoE needs more manpower such as executive magistrates to carry-out drives to shut-down illegal brick kilns.

He said the DoE has only three executive magistrates, although in the organogram there are eight posts for executive magistrates. Magistrates are necessary to launch drives against pollution in Dhaka city.

Advocate Manzill Morshed appeared for the writ petitioner while Deputy Attorney General Abdullah-Al-Mahmud Bashar represented the state.

On April 2019, a petition was filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh seeking an order on the authorities concerned to curb air pollution in Dhaka.