Why should govt not be directed to save St Martin's: HC
The court also asked the authorities why they should not be ordered to take appropriate administrative action to ensure plastic-free tourism across the country
The High Court (HC) has issued a rule asking the government to explain why it should not be directed to take effective measures to save the environment of St Martin's Island near Cox's Bazar.
In the rule, the court also asked the authorities why they should not be ordered to take appropriate administrative action to ensure plastic-free tourism across the country.
The court asked the secretaries of the Tourism, Home, Environment, Forest and Climate Change ministries to respond to the rule within four weeks.
The HC bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahsan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader on Tuesday issued the rule after hearing a writ petition filed by Travelers of Bangladesh, a Facebook-based organisation.
Advocate Zulhas Uddin Ahmed stood for the petitioner while deputy attorney general Abdullah Al Mahmud Bashar represented the state at court.
Organiser Mohammad Abdullah of the Facebook-based group, Travelers of Bangladesh, filed the public interest litigation.
Earlier, members of Travelers of Bangladesh held a cleaning drive at St Martin's Island in October and collected 555 kilograms of plastic waste.
In the writ, the petitioner mentioned that the government has failed to provide a clean and pollution-free environment at St Martin's Island.