Here is the press release regarding this issue:

-Press Release-

HIGH COURT INTERVENES

IN ADDRESSING WATER LOGGING IN JESSORE

A Writ Petition has been moved today, 13 August, 2006 by BELA seeking appropriate judicial intervention to address the sufferings of the local people of 144 villages of the three Upazilas of Abhaynagar, Manirampur and Keshabpur of Jessore caused by the long standing water logging resulting from the implementation of the faulty Khulna Jessore Drainage Rehabilation Project (KJDRP) of ADB and the BWDB.

The joint petition of BELA and BLAST has been filed at a time when due to the KJDRP more than one lack people of the 144 villagers are forced to live an in human life with their homestead, agricultural lands, academic institutions, road are remaining under water since October, 2005. Although in a meeting held in last November, 2005 with the three members of Parliament present it was decided that the situation shall be dealt with like emergency/war situation, and that the BWDB continues to claim that it has submitted yet another project worth 92 crores taka, the local people are yet to be rescued from this unprecedented water logging that resulted in serious and unbearable sufferings for the villagers who had no agricultural activities and resultantly no economic returns for a long time. Local people have demanded removal of the Bhobodoho sluice gate that they believe to be root of the problem and have for long been pressing for adequate relief and supports from the national and local administration, but of no avail.

Following the motion hearing, a division bench of the High Court comprising Mr. Justice Syed Mohammad Dusthagir Hossain and Mr. Justice Mamnon Rahaman has directed, amongst others, the Chairman, Bangladesh Water Development Board, the Deputy Commissioner of Jessore, the Deputy Director, Department of Environment, Khulna and the Upazilla Nirbahi Officers of Abhaynagar, Manirampur and Keshabpur to provide all such services, products, goods and other supports within their means that are required to ensure that the people of the affected villages of the three Upazillas are safety located and are receiving food, water, medicine and other essentials during such period as the water logging continues.

The Hon’ble Court has further directed the government agencies to show cause within a month as to why their failure to address the catastrophic and prolonged water logging in the three Upazillas of Jessore prevailing for the last few years and failure of the respondents to protect the lives, properties, livelihoods, safety, comfort, health of the villagers from the adverse impact of such unprecedented water congestion should not be declared to be without lawful authority and in violation of their statutory duties. The respondents have also been directed to show cause within four weeks as to why they should not be directed to draw up necessary action plans in consultation with the local people and why a direction should not be issued upon them to form a Committee composed of the persons nominated by the Supreme Court to permanently resolve such catastrophe and arrange for adequate compensation for the local people against the losses resulting from such water logging.

The petition has been moved by BELA and BLAST jointly. One behalf of the petitioners Senior Advocate AFM Hasan Ariff appeared. He was assisted by S. Rizwana Hasan and Iqbal Kabir.

Sent by:

Shahida Akhter Khan, Lawyer, BELA