Campaigners against genetically modified (GM) crops yesterday filed a writ petition with the High Court against a government move to release Bt brinjal, a GM crop, for the first time in the country.
The court is likely to hear the writ today, lawyers concerned said.
The writ was filed by five green activists including an organiser of Naya Krishi Andolon, Farida Akhter.
The move came seven days after the same group served a legal notice on the agriculture secretary, executive chairman of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council and director general of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (Bari), asking them to refrain from commercial release of Bt brinjal.
On July 15, Bari applied to the National Technical Committee for Crop Biotechnology seeking commercial release of Bt brinjal next month.
Earlier, Bangladeshi scientists had readied the country’s first GM crop — brinjal infused with pest-resistant genes — which could see a drastic fall in the use of harmful pesticides in the crop.
Of all vegetables produced in the country, brinjal tops the list in terms of pesticide use.
Fruit and shoot borer, considered the most devastating pest in South and Southeast Asia, ravages brinjal fields and can cause loss of the crop by as much as 70 percent unless a heavy dose of pesticide is used.
Contacted, Farida Akhter said yesterday they filed the writ apprehending that release of the GM crop would cause loss of biodiversity and create “biological pollution” in the environment.
Dr Md Rafiqul Islam Mondal, director general of Bari, told this correspondent yesterday an additional attorney general would defend the case on behalf the government. He insisted that the process of release of Bt brinjal would go through all biosafety regulatory processes, and those opposing its release would have a fair chance to raise their voice during “public consultation” before the government takes a final decision in this regard.
Once the crop is released, Bangladesh will join a group of 28 countries which grow GM crops. Though it will be the country’s first home-grown GM crop, consumers have long been exposed to GM foods through consumption of imported GM soybean oil.
-With The Daily Star input
