Brazilian National High Court chief justice visits Dhaka
Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed said that the existential threats posed to the country by climate change, deforestation, industrial pollution and unregulated urban expansion demanded strong judicial response.
Addressing a seminar at a Dhaka hotel on Monday, he mentioned that the country鈥檚 judiciary historically embraced its role as the vanguard of environmental protection.
Honouring the visit of Antonio Herman Benjamin, Brazilian National High Court鈥檚 chief justice, the Supreme Court of Bangladesh organised the seminar titled 鈥楿pholding environmental justice: the role of judges for a sustainable future鈥�.
Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed in his speech warned that failure in protecting the world鈥檚 largest mangrove forest, the Sunderbans, from threats by climatic and human-made factors, would lead to the catastrophic loss of the environmental security it provides to the millions of coastal people.
鈥業t is our solemn duty as stewards of justice to ensure that this irreplaceable sanctuary is protected for future generations through stringent legal frameworks, sustainable policies and unwavering judicial oversight,鈥� he emphasised.
Chief Justice of Brazil鈥檚 National High Court, Antonio Herman Benjamin, said that climate change poses immense threats to both Bangladesh and Brazil.
While citing the importance of rule of law to prevent environmental degradation induced by human-made causes, Antonio Herman Benjamin said, 鈥楾he main problem that our countries face is not the lack of laws but the lack of implementation of the laws.鈥�
He also stressed that enacting effective laws was a prerequisite to protect the environment, while observing that the existing laws were largely shaped by a exploitative colonial mindset.
The seminar began with an introductory speech by High Court judge Justice Farah Mahbub.
She highlighted the judiciary of Bangladesh鈥檚 role in environmental protection through the tool of public interest litigation and statutory interventions, including some landmark rulings on
river protection, air quality regulation and enforcement of environmental laws.
The seminar was also attended by attorney general of Bangladesh Md Asaduzzaman, Brazilian ambassador in Dhaka Paulo Fernando Dias Feres, Supreme Court Bar Association president, acting secretary and members.
