High Court issued contempt of court rule against five people including the Director General of Environment Department and Deputy Commissioner of Habiganj district for not determining the damage to a canal and locals due to pollution caused by ‘Maar’ company in Madhabpur upazila.

Bench of justice Md Mojibur Rahman Mia and Justice Kamrul Hossain Molla passed the order and asked the five government officials to submit their response to the rule within 14 days after receiving the notice.

Director of Department of Environment (monitor and enforcement), Director of Sylhet Environment Department and Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Madhabpur are the other officials against whom the rule has been issued.

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On March 15 the High Court bench ordered to submit a report within two months determining the pollution and damage of Ektiarpul canal and peoples in the area and to shut activity of the company for three months followed by a writ petition filed by Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA).

Later on June 15, the court ordered to keep the company shut for three months more.

However, the directed officials didn’t submit the report even after extending the time for 15 days.

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During a hearing on the plea of Maar Company to open the factory today the court rejected the appeal and issued the rule against those five officials, said lawyer of BELA Sayeed Ahmed Kabir presenting petitioner’s side.