The High Court today directed the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to conduct a study through the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) on the potential health and environmental risks caused by radiation from mobile phone towers.

The BTRC has been asked to submit a report to the court within six months.

The court later fixed December 2 for a hearing on the issue.

The bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Aziz Ahmed Bhuiyan passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed by rights body Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB), seeking necessary directives.

The petition was filed in 2019 following media reports claiming that radiation from mobile towers could harm humans, animals, birds, and plants.

Following the petition, the HC on April 25, 2019, directed the BTRC to review radiation levels and formulate guidelines restricting the installation of towers at public places, including schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, and court premises.

In compliance with the court’s directive, Buet Professor Kamrul Hasan appeared before the court, presented his observations, and later submitted a written report on April 30, 2024.

In the report, he recommended reducing radiation levels from mobile phone towers and also proposed conducting a study in Bangladesh to assess the extent of the damage caused by such radiation.

Following the recommendation, the court today asked the BTRC to undertake the research project and also submit a compliance report on incorporating restrictions on tower installations at densely populated public places, HRPB lawyer Manzill Murshid told The Daily Star.

Advocate Manzill Murshid, assisted by lawyer Sanjoy Mondal, appeared for HRPB, while Advocate Manzur Nahid represented BTRC during the hearing of the petition.