The High Court today ordered the government to immediately shut down illegal stone-crushing machines at five upazilas in Sylhet.

The HC bench of Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam and Justice Zafar Ahmed passed the order following a writ petition filed by Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA).

They submitted the petition to the court on August 3 last year saying 393 out of 606 stone-crushing machines at Sylhet Sadar, Companiganj, Gowainghat, Jaintapur and Kanaighat upazilas were operating illegally as they lacked environmental clearance certificate.

The stone-crushing machines operate on public roads, forests, playgrounds and residential areas and therefore cause environmental, sound and air pollution and affect public health.

The writ petitioners prayed to the High Court to direct the government to halt running of illegal stone-crushing machines in Sylhet.