The High Court has ordered the Department of Environment (DoE) to file cases against 30 washing factories in Dhaka’s Keraniganj area for polluting the water of Buriganga River.

The cases must be filed within 30 days, as per the court order.

The bench of Justice Gobinda Chandra Tagore and Justice Mohammad Ullah issued the order on Sunday after the hearing on a writ petition filed by the Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh in May 2010, seeking necessary directives to protect the Buriganga River.

The establishments to be sued are Ahmed Hossain, Amena, Sun Moon, Eden, Bismillah, Lotus, Global, Rubel, Anushka, Sotota, Chanchal, Abdur Rob, Dhaka, Ajan, New Sahara, Dohar, Relative, New Nasha, Unique, Mow, Setu, Quality, Joena, Kalam, Water Colour, Par Joar, GM, Cumilla, Achhia and Lily Water plants, , according to media reports.

The High Court also ordered the authorities concerned to prevent the dumping of waste into Buriganga River.

In addition, the court directed local representatives and authorities concerned to keep abreast of the situation and take legal action against organizations or individuals that pollute the water of the river.

The authorities were asked to report to the High Court on the progress in complying with the orders on the first Sunday of every month.

Manzill Murshid, the petitioner’s counsel, told the High Court that 30 washing factories in Keraniganj area were violating the law and court directives by discarding waste into Buriganga River, polluting its water and environment, according to a report submitted by the DoE.

The DoE has closed the plants twice, but they resumed their operations, Manzill added.

It is within the DoE’s purview to file cases against such plants, but they have yet to do so, said the lawyer.

Deputy Attorney General Kazi Mynul Hasan represented the state while lawyer Amatul Karim appeared for the DoE.