The High Court has directed to publish the names of the persons and organizations polluting the environment through the website and press release of the Department of Environment within a week. At the same time, the court has asked to submit a progress report within two weeks after implementing the court order.
The High Court has also issued a rule asking why the inaction of the defendants in disclosing the names of the polluters would not be illegal and why the disclosure of names would not be directed. Seven people, including the Secretary of the Ministry of Forests and Environment, the Secretary of the Ministry of Information and the Director General of the Department of Environment, have been asked to respond to the rule within four weeks.
The High Court bench comprising Justice Md. Ashfaqul Islam and Justice Mohiuddin Shamim passed the order on Monday, June 13, 2022.
Senior lawyer Manzil Morshed appeared for the writ petition. On the other hand, Assistant Attorney General Nasim Islam Raju represented the state.
According to the provisions of Section 6 (1) of the Right to Information Act and Section 4 (2) (f) of the Environment Act, the authorities are legally obliged to disclose all information of polluters. But the Department of the Environment has taken a stand in favor of polluters in violation of the law, which is completely illegal. Therefore, a writ petition was filed in the High Court seeking directions in this regard.
