E-LAW Partner Press Release
Bangladesh High Court Directs Government to
Protect and Conserve Sonadia Island
Dhaka, July 6, 2003 -- A petition (Writ Petition no. 4286 of
2003) was moved today before the High Court Division by Bangladesh
Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) seeking special protective
measures to protect and conserve the 4916 hectors of Sonadia Island
as an Ecologically Critical Area (ECA).
In the petition filed by BELA relief was sought against the
Secretaries, Ministry of Environment & Forest (MoEF) and Ministry of
Land, the Chief Conservator of Forest, the Deputy Commissioner,
Cox's Bazar, the Divisional Forest Officer, Cox's Bazar.
In the petition of BELA it was stated that the declaration of the
total of 4916 hector of land of the Sonadia Island establishes the
facts that the mangrove forest of the said land area has special
ecological significance that played crucial role in protecting and
preserving the char land of Sonadia Island from erosion and also to
save the people living nearby from being inundated and swept by the
tidal bore during natural disaster.
Upon hearing the petitioner, the Division Bench of the High Court
Division comprising Mr. Justice ABM Khairul Haque and Mr. Justice
Syed Shahidur Rahman has issued a Rule Nisi calling upon the
Respondents to show cause as to why they should not be directed to
undertake special protective measures as required under Section 5 of
the Environment Conservation Act, 1995 to protect and conserve the
4916 hectors of Sonadia Island as an Ecologically Critical Area as
declared vide Gazette notification dated 19 April, 1999 under
section 5 of the Environment Conservation Act, 1995.
Pending hearing of the Rule the Court has also stayed granting of
lease of or otherwise tampering with the 4,916 hectors of the forest
land of Sonadia Island that was originally declared ECA and directed
the Respondents to undertake investigation to identify and measure
the areas within the 4,916 hectors of the Sonadia Island where
shrimp cultivation/clearing of forest is taking place or has taken
place, list those who are involved in such cultivation/clearing and
the enabling arrangements, assess in monetary terms the loss of
forest resources for such individual shrimp cultivation/clearing of
forest and submit a report on the same within two months before this
Court.
The Rule has been made returnable within 4 weeks.
The petition was moved by Barrister Tanjib-ul-Alam & Advocate, M.
Iqbal Kabir, BELA.
For more information, contact:
Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association
bela@bangla.net
Source: http://www.elaw.org/
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