The High Court has ordered the authority concerned to take action to stop earth-filling and dam construction across the Gomti River at Muradnagar in Comilla within 24 hours.
The bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Abu Taher Md Saifur Rahman passed the order following a writ petition filed by Muradnagar inhabitants Monir Hossain, Taslim and Farhadul Alam on Monday afternoon.
The deputy commissioner of Comilla was asked to submit a report on the implementation of the order within seven days.
The court also asked the authorities to take action within 72 hours against the persons involved in the earth-filling under section 8 of the Water Body Protection Act.
The Muradnagar Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Officer-in-Charge were asked to submit the progress report in affidavit format within May 25.
The court also issued a rule asking why the inactivities of the repondents should not be declared illegal.
The water resources secretary, environment secretary, director general of water development board, director general of the environment department, chief engineer of the water development board of Gomti River, deputy commissioner of Comilla, Muradnagar UNO, and officer-in-charge were asked to respond to the rule within four weeks.
Advocate Monzil Morshed represented the petitioners while Deputy Attorney General Taposh Kumar Biswas moved for the state during the hearing.