The High Court has directed the environment secretary and the Department of Environment (DoE) to assess environmental and economic damage caused by industrial pollution in the Shitalakkhya River and submit a report in three months.
A High Court bench comprising Justice Ahmed Sohel and Justice SM Iftekhar Uddin Mahmud passed the order on Thursday.
Barrister Manzill Murshid appeared for the petitioner, while Deputy Attorney General Khan Ziaur Rahman represented the state.
The directive came in response to a public interest writ petition filed by the human rights organisation, Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB), which attached media reports highlighting pollution in river caused by industrial waste discharged from factories along its banks.
Following a hearing, the High Court on 6 May 2025, issued a rule and directed the formation of a committee to monitor the alleged polluting factories, take necessary measures and assess the financial losses caused by the pollution before submitting a report to the court.
The factories accused of polluting the river include Khalek Textile, Leena Paper Mill, RSK Dyeing, Khan Brothers Textile, SRS Knit Dyeing, Messrs Rubel Dyeing, Bangladesh Dyeing and Processing, Asian Fabric, Jilani Dyeing, Gazipur Board Mills, New Alam Dyeing, Mayer Doa Dyeing, MR Dyeing, Abdur Rab Dyeing, Bismillah Knit Dyeing, Shimul Dyeing, Razzak Washing and Haji Rasul Dyeing.
In line with the court’s earlier directive, HRPB later filed an application seeking an assessment of the damage and submission of a report.
During the hearing, the organisation argued that operating industrial establishments without the required environmental clearance is a punishable offence under existing environmental laws.
It further alleged that many factories had long been operating without effluent treatment plants (ETPs) and had been discharging untreated waste into the Shitalakkhya River, causing severe pollution and environmental damage in surrounding areas.
Lawyers for the petitioner also informed the court that although it had ordered the submission of a damage assessment report nearly a year ago, no report had yet been filed.
After hearing the submissions, the court directed the authorities concerned to assess the financial losses caused by the pollution and submit a report within the next three months.
The respondents in the case include the Ministry of Shipping, the secretary to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the chairman of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), the director general of the Department of Environment, police authorities, the Narayanganj deputy commissioner and the owners of 117 industrial establishments.
