Dhaka: The High Court on Thursday directed the government not to allow any industrial unit to be set up within 10 kilometers of the Sundarbans.

The HC bench of Justice Moinul Islam Chowdhury and Justice JBM Hasan passed the order after primary hearing on a petition.

The court also asked the government to submit within six months a list of the industries already built in 10 km areas of the Sundarbans.

It also issued a rule seeking explanation as to why the approval of industries and factories within 10 km areas of the forest will not be the violation of the gazette notification of the Environment and Forest Ministry issued in 1999 and why those should not be removed.

The Secretaries of the Environment Ministry, Industries Ministry, Land Ministry, Director General of the Department of Environment, Deputy Commissioner of Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Barguna and police superintendent of Khulna were asked to respond to the rule.

President of Save the Sundarbans Foundation Sheikh Faridul Islam filed the writ on April 4.

According to the writ petition, the Environment and Forest Ministry issued a gazette notification on August 30 in 1999 declaring the Sundarbans as a reserved area and its 10 km areas as ecologically critical area but the Environment Department has reportedly issued clearance certificate to 150 industries in the area.