DHAKA: The High Court Wednesday asked the officers-in–Charge of six police stations in the capital to visit the banks of the River Buriganga once a day to prevent dumping of wastages in the river.

A HC bench compressing justice Mohammad Momtaz Uddin Ahmed and justice Naima Haider passed the order as the police officers appeared before the court complying with its summon.

They were also directed to submit report to the court through the office of Attorney-General in every three months on implementation of the order.

The OCs are – Asaduzzaman of Keraniganj police station, Salahuddin Ahmed of Kotwali police station, Enamul Haque of Hajaribagh police station, Mohammad Ali of Lalbagh police station, Mohammad Shafiqul Islam of Kamrangir Char police station and Mahbub Hossain of Demra police station.

The court on June 7 summoned the six to appear before it on Wednesday as they did not take any steps to stop dumping garbage in the Buriganga River.

During the hearing, Supreme Court lawyer Manjil Morshed, also the chairman of Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh, said they did not want the OCs get punished. Rather they were summoned because of their non-compliance with the court order, he added.

Justice Mohammad Momtazuddin said,” Environmental pollution has now become an international issue. The whole world is fighting against the problem.  Water crisis turns severe in the months of March, April and May. Insufficiency of pure drinking water will hit hard the city dwellers after 10 years.”

Addressing the OCs he also said, “No one but the Appellate Division could change our judgment. Secretaries, ministers and even the Prime Minister cannot change the court verdict. This country is ours. We are the representatives of Article 7 of the national constitution, which said we are the representatives of the country people.”

Deputy Attorney- General Mostafa Zaman Islam stood for the state side.

He informed the court order are being implemented. A general diary  has been registered with Hazaribagh thana in dumping wastages in the River Buriganga, he added.

BDST: 02: 40 Hrs, June 9, 2010.
JA/RZ/MMK/MS/LY