HC stays sand extraction in Chakaria after Daily Star report

The High Court in a rule today stayed sand extraction in Chakaria upazila of Cox's Bazar for three months asking district administration to assess its environmental damage and realise the penalty from perpetrators.

Justice Farah Mahbub and S M Moniruzzaman came up with the rule today responding to a writ petition filed by Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) and Youth Environment Society (YES) recently.

The rule also sought to know why sand extraction should not be declared illegal.

The Daily Star ran reports on the devastation in Rangmahal, Dulahajara and Fasiakhali forests inflicted by sand mining on February 5 and March 27 this year.

Ruling party men armed with lease document have been ripping apart the Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary, Fasiakhali Reserve Forest, Rangmahal, Ringvong, Pagkirbil, Bogarbil area.