The High Court (HC) has ordered the removal of mobile towers from densely populates areas which include areas around hospitals and educational institutions.
The full verdict by the bench of Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed and Justice Md Iqbal Kabir was published on Thursday (Oct 17).
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.
Following a hearing on the writ, on Apr 25 this year, the HC ordered the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to carry out a survey on the impact of harmful radiation emitting mobile towers and submit the report within four months.
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 also told 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,” Manzill Murshid had told the media.
He said that following the report, the BTRC submitted guideline with the court which was amended at least five times at their behest.