The High Court on Tuesday directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to stop within 48 hours 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 Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain and Justice Quamrul Islam Siddiqui came up with the order upon an application filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB). HRPB lawyer Advocate Manzil Murshed told the Daily Star that the HC on October 8 this year directed the director general of the Directorate of Environment, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner, 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 this court. He said they submitted the report about the condition of the rivers as per the HC directive.

After reviewing the report and hearing the application from HRPB, the HC today 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.

-Daily Star