HC order brings hope for Dhaka’s greenery
It is encouraging to see the High Court's injunction restraining the government from carrying out construction work in Panthakunja Park and the Hatirjheel waterbody in Dhaka. The order, issued on Wednesday, also directed the relevant authorities to open the park for public use and restore Hatirjheel's original waterbody from Moghbazar to the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (FDC) premise. This comes in response to a writ petition filed by environmental activists who argued that construction of the FDC-to-Palashi extension of the Dhaka elevated expressway would be environmentally damaging.
According to the petitioners, the original design of the expressway, as per the Strategic Transport Plan (2005), did not include this extension ramp. The design was changed several times, and despite warnings of increased traffic congestion, the former prime minister greenlit the Palashi ramp construction. Between 2023 and 2024, more than 10 acres of Hatirjheel Lake from Moghbazar to FDC were filled to construct the ramp. As predicted, this worsened waterlogging in the neighbourhood and damaged the biodiversity of the lake.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. 
Meanwhile, hundreds of trees in Panthakunja were felled. Even the political changeover in August 2024 could not stop the Dhaka Elevated Expressway Authority from felling the park's trees, transforming the once lush green oasis in Dhaka's heart into a barren stretch. Members of the Bangladesh Tree Protection Movement led a 168-day sit-in protest at the park to save the trees. Although their movement eventually led to a hopeful ruling for one of Dhaka's limited green spaces, whether the relevant authorities will take necessary action swiftly remains uncertain.
There are reasons for such apprehension. In the past, there have been instances when judicial directives and executive decisions were ignored. Government bodies have at times even violated express laws, such as filling up a portion of Hatirjheel Lake in breach of the Environment Conservation (Amendment) Act of 2010. These natural spaces are often given the least priority. In the name of development and beautification, large sums of money are spent, and infrastructure built with little regard for the environment. What is more unfortunate is that our policymakers do not appear to consider the long-term impact of environmental degradation.
As a result, Dhaka, with its ever-expanding brick and cement structures, is becoming increasingly unliveable. While finding a suitable alternative for relocating the FDC-to-Palashi extension may not be easy, the government must leave no stone unturned in this regard. We also urge that future development projects be designed with a focus on preserving the little natural space still left in the city.
Comments