HC issues injunction on construction of Central Tissue Culture Lab

The High Court has issued an injunction upon the construction works of the Central Tissue Culture and Seed Health Laboratory, a project of the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), by filling up water bodies in Goidartek area of Mirpur under Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC).

It also asked the chairman of Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation and the project director of Central Tissue Culture and Seed Health Laboratory to refrain from further filling up the water bodies for their construction works.

At the same time, the HC has directed the mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), chairman of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartipakkha (Rajuk), chairman of the BADC and director general of the Department of Environment to submit a report to the court after complying with the order.

The High Court bench of Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty and Justice Md Ali Reza passed the order on Sunday after hearing a writ petition filed by the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) seeking necessary directives in this regard.

Barrister Mohammad Ashraf Ali and Advocate S Hasanul Banna appeared in the court hearing on behalf of the BELA.

The High Court also issued a rule upon the concerned bodies of the government to explain as to why the inaction and failure of the respondents in preventing the filling up of the water bodies in Goidartek area of Mirpur by the BADC for setting up the Central Tissue Culture and Seed Health Laboratory should not be declared illegal.

It also wanted to know in the rule to explain as to why the respondents should not be directed to the restoration of the filled part of the water bodies and restore those to their original condition and maintain those as water bodies.

Environment Secretary, Agriculture Secretary, Housing Secretary, DNCC Mayor, Rajuk Chairman, BADC Chairman, Director General of the Department of Environment, Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka, Police Superintendent of Dhaka, Chief Urban Planner of Rajuk and others have been asked to comply with the rule.

According to the writ petitioners, a total of 117 acres of a watershed in the Goidartek area of Mirpur was used as the ‘Water Regulating Pond’ of the DNCC. This ‘Water Regulating Pond’ is also marked in the Detailed Area Plan (DAP) as the watershed.

However, the BADC filled up its 12 acres area to set up its Central Tissue Culture and Seed Health Laboratory.

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