The High Court (HC) has directed the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to carry out a survey on the impact harmful radiation emitting mobile towers and submit the report within four months.
The court also said that directives will be given to remove all the mobile towers emitting harmful radiation from near educational institutions, hospitals, prisons, playgrounds and densely populated areas.
The bench of Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed and Justice Md Iqbal Kabir passed the order on Thursday (Apr 25) after hearing a seven-year-old petition in the matter.
Advocate Manzill Murshid moved for the petition and Deputy Attorney General Kazi Zeenat Hoque argued for the state.
On Oct 29, 2012, rights organisation Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) lodged a writ with the HC in public interest after a report broadcast by Ekushey Television that year which said equipment in mobile-phone towers emit radiation that is harmful for the human body.
After hearing the writ, the court had directed the health secretary to form a specialised committee in order to examine the level of radiation emission from the mobile towers and its effect on people’s health and the environment.
The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission chairman was directed to file a report after inspecting a few mobile towers.
The court had also issued a rule why the respondents shouldn’t be ordered to take necessary steps against the harmful radiation emitting mobile towers.
“After the examination, the health ministry said that radiation emission from the towers was well over the international standard,” said Manzill Murshid.
“Following the report, the BTRC submitted guideline with the court. The guideline was amended at least five times at our behest,” he added.