Staff Correspondent

The High Court yesterday directed the Department of Environment (DoE) to take appropriate legal action against 30 washing plants in Keraniganj for polluting the Buriganga.

The court also directed the DoE to submit a report before it within seven days after complying with the directive.

Meanwhile, the court issued a rule asking the authorities to explain why contempt of court proceedings should not be brought against them for giving further gas and electricity connections to the companies polluting Buriganga despite its prohibition order.

The managing director of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd (TGTDCL) and chairman of Rural Electrification Board (REB) were respondents to the rule and two weeks were given to them for an explanation.

The HC bench of Justice Gobinda Chandra Tagore and Justice Mohammad Ullah passed the order while hearing a writ petition filed by the rights organisation Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB).