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A writ petition was filed Sunday seeking directives to stop cutting trees across the country including the capital Dhaka to protect the environment. The writ also sought directives to form bodies in Dhaka and other places.
The rights organisation 'Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB)' represented by three Supreme Court lawyers filed the petition on Sunday as a public interest litigation.
Lawyer Manzill Murshid, a counsel of the writ petitioners said the HC bench comprising Justice Md Khasruzzaman and Justice K M Zahid Sarwar may hold hearing on the petition today.
An extreme heat-wave has been sweeping over the country for the last few weeks disrupting the normal life of the countrymen. Although rainfall in last few days at different parts of the country has reduced the heat slightly, the temperature remains high.
Issues like climate change, development, forestry, urban planning, cutting trees and planting trees are relevantly discussed in such a long heat-wave in the history of the country.
There have been reports about this in the media. Various organizations have held discussion, view exchange programs with experts.
Manzill Murshid said they have filed the petition annexing reports published different media over cutting trees and planting trees.
It is claimed in the writ petition 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 under the community forestry contracts across the country has an adverse effect on the environment. If this is not stopped, Bangladesh's environment will be damaged and people's right to live will be severely damaged.
The petition sought a direction upon the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change to establish a seven-member committee within seven days, comprising environmentalists, environmental scientists, and professors from the Environmental Science departments of Dhaka University and Jahangirnagar University.
The committee will give permission for tree cutting in Dhaka city if necessary and without its permission no one will cut tree.
It also sought direction for forming bodies at district and upazila levels under the leadership of Deputy Commissioners and Upazila Nirbahi Officers respectively. It also sought directions from the court so that no person at local levels can cut tree without prior permission of the local committees.
It sought a rule upon the government bodies to explain as to why the inaction of the respondents to stop felling trees should not be declared illegal and as to why they should not be directed to take initiatives to stop cutting trees across the country including Dhaka.