Writ filed to stop cutting trees

A writ petition was filed on Sunday with the High Court seeking its directive on the government to stop cutting of trees across the country, including Dhaka, to protect the environment.

Advocate Manzill Murshid, president of Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) filed the petition as public interest litigation on behalf of the organisation after media published news of thousands of trees being cut down in various areas despite the recent rise in temperature.

The HC bench comprising Justice Md Khasruzzaman and Justice KM Zahid Sarwar is likely to hold hearing on the petition on Monday, Murshid said.
In the writ petition, the HRPB contended that the amount of vegetation required for healthy living in Dhaka city is decreasing day by day and the recent rise in temperature is making the living conditions of people more miserable due to which the right to decent living is being violated.

Moreover, due to the cutting of trees planted in the social forestry agreement across the country, there is an adverse reaction on the environment. If this is not stopped, Bangladeshs environment will be damaged and peoples right to live will be severely damaged, it said in the petition.

The secretary of the Council of Ministers, the Prime Ministers Offices chief secretary, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change secretary, and the director general of Bangladesh Police have been made respondents in the petition.

The petition mentioned that the number of plants required for healthy living in Dhaka city is decreasing day by day. The recent increase in temperature is making the living conditions of people more miserable, violating the right to live decently.

On the other hand, cutting down the trees planted in the community forestry contracts across the country has an adverse effect on the environment. If this is not stopped, Bangladeshs environment will be damaged and peoples right to live will be severely damaged, according to the petition.

Besides, the rights of people to live in the city will be harmed severely, he added.

 The writ also sought directives to form a seven-member committee, composed of Environmentalist, Environmental scientist, Prof. of Environment Science of Dhaka University and Jahangirnagar University, who will give approval of cutting trees in Dhaka city, if needed.

It also sought directives to ask the Public Administration Ministry to issue a circular within seven days by the Deputy Commissioner and directed to form a committee comprising the District Environment Officer, Principal of Government College, Social Worker, Environmentalists, President or Secretary of the District Lawyers Association and Civil Surgeon, who will provide approval to cut trees.    —UNB