The High Court has ordered any structure in Dhaka’s Hatirjheel-Begunbari area that is not in the development project’s plans to be removed within seven days.
Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice KM Hafizul Alam issued the order responding to public interest litigation on Monday.
It also issued a rule asking why it should not order any construction work outside those included in the Hatirjheel-Begunbari Project layout to be halted and the project area to be protected.
The public works secretary, the Dhaka South City Corporation chief executive officer, the RAJUK chairman, the DMP commissioner, the Hatirjheel Police Station OC and the project director to respond in four weeks.
Lawyer Manzil Morshed represented the petitioners and Deputy Attorney General Amit Talukdar represented the state.
“Within a few days of the start of this beautification process various illegal restaurants and traders sprang up. This is causing traffic problems and is threatening to diminish the aesthetic value of the project.”
Though these illegal structures were built in open view of the public, RAJUK had not taken any action against them. The Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh organisation filed the petition in the public interest after a news report on the matter was published on Aug 1.
The High Court has also instructed the RAJUK chairman, the DMP commissioner, the Hatirjheel Police Station OC and the project director to ensure regular supervision of the area to prevent the construction of illegal structures, bdnews24 reported.
The relevant officials are to submit a report on their progress in implementing the court’s instructions within two weeks, Morshed said.