Introduction

BLAST has undertaken investigation, advocacy and litigation to protect citizen’s rights to enjoy a safe and healthy environment. In one case, BLAST and the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) brought to the attention of the High Court the suffering of people in several upazillas in Jessore due to long-standing water logging resulting from the implementation of the faulty Khulna Jessore Drainage Rehabilitation Project. Pending hearing, the High Court issued a rule instructing the Government to ensure that the people in the affected upazillas were safely located and received food, water, medicine and other essentials. The High Court also instructed the government to take immediate interim measures to pump out or otherwise arrange for recession of water from affected villages.

BLAST has also filed litigation and undertaken advocacy regarding planned building. BLAST has challenged construction of high rise buildings, both residential and commercial, without due deference to electricity, drainage, sewerage and water supply facilities, making the environment of Dhaka more hazardous and exposing the inhabitants to environmental degradation. On 30 June 2010, BLAST organised a discussion titled 'Bangladesh National Building Code: Implementation and Way Forward' at the National Press Club, at which Government civil servants and civil society spoke about the need to implement Dhaka’s Detailed Area Plan (DAP) for safe development. Also see “Worker’s Rights” for more information about BLAST’s efforts to ensure that workplaces are safe for all workers.

Public Interest Litigation

Disposed:

• BLAST and others vs. Bangladesh and others [Car Park Case]
  Writ Petition No. 1534 of 1999
  Summary

• BLAST and others vs. Bangladesh and others [Vehicular Pollution Case]
  Writ Petition No. 1694/2000
  Summary

Pending:

• BLAST and Mrs. Zohora Khanum vs. Bangladesh and others [Lake Development Case]
  Writ Petition No. 7483 of 1997
  Summary

• BLAST and others vs. Bangladesh and others [Open Space Case]
  Writ Petition No. 1649 of 1999
  Summary

• BLAST vs. Bangladesh and others [Chittagong Hill Cutting Case]
  Writ Petition No. 5663 of 2000
  Summary

• BLAST vs. Bangladesh [Illegal Construction of High Rise Case]
  Writ Petition No. 258 of 2004
  Summary

• ASK, BLAST and others vs. Bangladesh and others [KTS Garments Fire Case]
  Writ Petition No. 2019 of 2006
  Summary

• Md. Kamal Hossain and others vs. Bangladesh and others [Spectrum Sweater Factory Collapse Case]
  Writ Petition No. 3566 of 2005
  Summary

• BLAST and BELA vs. Bangladesh and others [Water Logging Case]
  Writ Petition No. 7123 of 2006
  Summary

• BLAST vs. Bangladesh and others [Untreated Industrial Waste Case]
  Writ Petition No. 5007 of 2006
  Summary

• Md. Sohel Miazi and others vs. Bangladesh and others [Cox’s Bazar Hill Clearing Case]
  Writ Petition No. 5207 of 2007
  Summary

• BLAST and another vs. Bangladesh and others [Building Construction Code and Worker Safety Case]
  Writ Petition No. 718 of 2008
  Summary

• BLAST and another vs. Bangladesh and others [Non-Compliance with Environment Conservation Rules Case]
  Writ Petition No. 341 of 2009
  Summary

Media

• Report of the Videoconference on HIV-related Legal Services in South Asia, December 2011
  IDLO - 17-Feb-2012
  

• Implement DAP to Build Green City
  
• BLAST Holds Program on Bangladesh National Building Code: Implementation and Way Forward
  
• ব্লাস্টের আলোচনা সভায় বক্তারা
  
• Influential Quarter Out to Foil Dap