HC asks why inaction of govt to control firework not illegal

The High Court has issued a ruling to determine why the inaction of government agencies concerned in controlling fireworks and lanterns should not be declared illegal.

On 11 January, five organisations filed the writ petition for the country's environment and animal protection to control uncontrolled fireworks nationwide.

The High Court bench, comprising Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice Md Atabullah, passed the ruling on Sunday (21 January) after the first hearing of a writ petition on environmental impact of fireworks.

The organisations are People for Animal Welfare Foundation, Deep Ecology and Snake Rescue Foundation, Save the Nature of Bangladesh, the Center for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS), and Gana Adhikar Foundation.

In 2018, the flying of lanterns was completely banned by the DMP. Additionally, according to the Explosives Act, 1884, possession of colored firecrackers is entirely prohibited.
Meanwhile, according to CAPS' survey, noise pollution from fireworks on the night of December 31, 2022, was 113% higher, with air levels reaching up to 500 AQI, nine times higher than human tolerance. Thousands of birds died on the same night, and 200 fires broke out across the country.