The High Court has issued a ruling asking the mayors of four city corporations why they should not be directed to take necessary actions to prevent air pollution.
It also asked the government to explain what steps were being taken to remove dust, smoke and other deadly elements that are damaging people’s health.
The bench of Justice Jubayer Rahman Chowdhury and Justice Md Khasruzzaman issued the ruling yesterday, following a writ petition by two Supreme Court lawyers.
In the ruling, the court also asked the authorities to show cause as to why they should not be directed to remove deadly elements from the city corporation areas to protect people’s health.
The mayors of Dhaka North City Corporation, Dhaka South City Corporation, Narayanganj City Corporation and Gazipur City Corporation have been asked to respond to the ruling within four weeks.
The home secretary, the environment secretary, the inspector general of police and the director general of environment department were also made respondents to the ruling.
Supreme Court lawyers Julhas Uddin Ahmed and Mojibur Rahman filed the petition on January 18.
In the public interest petition, the lawyers mentioned that the cleaners of the city corporations produce dust while sweeping roads in the morning, while the dust and waste gathered on the roadsides also spread in the air.
The cleaners also burn roadside dirt that creates smokes and city dwellers have to suffer various diseases including respiratory problems. Due to air pollution, thousands die and health of millions more are damaged every year.