Stop illegal use of stone crushers in Sylhet upazilas

The High Court yesterday ordered the government to immediately shut down illegal stone-crushing machines operating in five Sylhet upazilas in order to protect public health and environment from pollution.

The HC bench of Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam and Justice Zafar Ahmed passed the order following a writ petition filed by Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela).

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On August 3 last year, Bela submitted the petition to the court saying 393 out of 606 stone-crushing machines in Sylhet Sadar, Companiganj, Gowainghat, Jaintapur and Kanaighat upazilas were operating illegally as they lacked environmental clearance certificates, causing severe environmental pollution and affecting public health. The writ petitioner prayed to the HC to direct the government to halt running of illegal stone-crushing machines in Sylhet.

Petitioner's lawyer Minhazul Hoque Chowdhury yesterday told The Daily Star that following the petition the HC on August 3 last year issued a rule asking the authorities concerned of the government to explain why setting up and running of such machines should not be declared illegal.

As they did not reply to the rule, the HC yesterday ordered the government to stop running of these machines, he added.