On Wednesday, the High Court began its judgment on the petition by according the status of ‘legal person’ to the Turag and other rivers in Bangladesh. But it was announced that the court will pass its judgment and directions on Sunday in a bid to avoid any conflict or contradiction with the National River Conservation Commission’s laws and other regulations. The proceedings on Thursday began with the court asking the petitioner’s lawyer why he had not referred the court to the river conservation commission established by the government and its relevant laws in the hearing. “In 2009, the government established a national river conservation commission in light of a High Court verdict to protect four rivers. Manzil Murshid, the petitioner’s lawyer, then said that the river conservation commission is ‘not effective enough’ in resolving the issues surrounding the encroachment of rivers as its powers are mostly confined to making recommendations.

Source: bd News24 January 31, 2019 15:45 UTC