HC orders to stop activities of dry starch powder factory in Habiganj for polluting environment

The High Court today ordered the government to immediately stop the functions of Maizea Advance Agro Refinery (MAAR) Limited, a dry starch powder producing company, for the polluting environment at Shappur in Habiganj's Madhavpur upazila.

In response to a writ petition, the court asked the authorities concerned to assess the environmental and ecological damage caused by MAAR Ltd in the area and to submit the assessment report before this court in 60 days on receiving copy of the order.

Director general of department of environment (DoE), deputy commissioner of Habigaanj, upazila nirbahi officer of Madhavpur, director (monitoring and enforcement) of DoE and director of DoE, Sylhet, have been asked to comply with the directive.

The HC also issued a rule asking 10 respondents, including the five officials, to explain in four weeks why their failure to stop the unauthorised, dangerous and polluting activities of MAAR Ltd should not be declared illegal and against the public interest.

In the rule, the court asked the respondents to show causes why they should not be directed to relocate the industry from the area to an industrial area and to take steps to protect Ekhtiarpur Khal (canal) from the pollution of the industry.   

The HC bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Md. Kamrul Hossain Mollah came up with the order and rule after hearing the writ petition filed by environmental organization --Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association -- challenging the legality of the activities of MAAR Ltd.