The High Court yesterday directed the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) to form a monitoring committee for taking effective steps in order to prevent factories from discharging waste into Shitalakkhya River and to submit a compliance report to this effect in two weeks.

In response to a writ petition, the court ordered the Department of Environment and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to jointly form a committee to assess the extent of the river's pollution and the financial value of the damage.

The findings of the committee must be submitted to the court in three months, the HC said in the order.

At the same time, the court issued a rule asking authorities concerned of the government to explain why action should not be taken against the establishments responsible for contaminating the Shitalakkhya in Narayanganj and why they should not be directed to pay compensation.

The HC bench of Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Mubina Asaf came up with the order and issue following a writ petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh.

Lawyer Manzill Murshid appeared for the petitioner while Deputy Attorney General Md Shafiqur Rahman represented the state during hearing.