Suspend highway project at Chunati wildlife sanctuary

Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) yesterday served a legal notice on the government, asking it to immediately suspend all activities of the Chattogram-Cox's Bazar highway improvement (Phase-II) project at Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary in order to properly protect its forests, wildlife, and biodiversity.

Advocate Zakia Sultana sent the legal notice on behalf of BELA to the officials concerned, saying that it is imperative to take acceptable alternative measures -- including flyovers, overpasses, and underpasses -- by seeking expert opinions and assessing the environmental impact impartially.

In the legal notice, BELA requested the officials to formulate a time-bound action plan for conservation and management of the sanctuary. It also said no new development projects should be undertaken in the sanctuary, and corrective measures should be taken after examining the project impact. 

In the legal notice, BELA asked the officials to inform it within seven days about the steps taken in response to the notice.