The High Court has published it verdict declaring legal person, legal entity or living entity status to all the rivers of Bangladesh, and named the National Commission for the Protection of Rivers as their legal guardian.
In the 283-page verdict, released on Monday (Jul 1), the court included 17 directives to save the country’s rivers and water bodies from pollution, and encroachment.
The High Court bench of Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Md Ashraful Kamal delivered the verdict on Feb 3, following a petition filed by rights body Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB).
According to the verdict, the writ case is to be considered as a continuing mandamus.
If the directives are violated by anybody, concerned parties can come to the High Court for further directives on the matter, verdict added.
The verdict stated that any institution, company or person involved with grabbing or polluting rivers or water bodies will not be eligible for getting any bank loans.
The Bangladesh Bank has been ordered to issue a circular in this regard.
Furthermore, the court also directed the Election Commission to disqualify people involved with such activities from contesting any national or local polls, and it also asked the commission to submit a list of names of these people to the court.
The education secretary was ordered to include the subject "river preservation and pollution" in textbooks of schools, colleges, and universities.
The High Court bench also asked the education ministry to hold hour-long classes, every two months, at all public and private academic institutions—including schools, madrasas, colleges, and universities—to build awareness among students about the importance of rivers.
The industries ministry was ordered to arrange hour-long meetings, every two months, with factory workers across the country to create awareness.