Demolishing BGMEA Complex

SC fixes Oct 5 for hearing on time plea

The Chamber court of the Appellate Division yesterday extended till October 5 its earlier order directing the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) to relocate its building by six-month from Hatirjheel area in Dhaka.

Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Justice Hassan Foez Siddiq passed the order in response to a petition filed by BGMEA on August 23 seeking one year time for relocating the multi-storey building.

The chamber judge also sent the petition to the full bench of the Appellate Division and fixed October 5 for hearing on the time petition.

Barrister Imtiaz Moinul Islam and Advocate Kamrul Haque Siddiq appeared for BGMEA.

In the petition, the garment makers requested the apex court to postpone the demolition of the controversial BGMEA office for a year as they are not fully prepared to flatten such a big building.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court had on March 12 ordered the BGMEA authority to start the demolition of the 15-storey building within six months or by September 12.

A three-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha allowed the time in its order in response to a petition filed by the BGMEA authority seeking three years’ time for shifting its headquarters from the 15-storey BGMEA Bhaban and demolish the building.

On April 13, 2011, the HC had ordered the authorities concerned to demolish the 15-storey BGMEA building on the Begunbari-Hatirjheel canal, saying it was built on land acquired through forgery and illegally filling up the canal.

Later, the Appellate Division stayed the HC judgment following a BGMEA petition. A four-member Appellate Division bench headed by the chief justice, in its final verdict on June 2 last year, dismissing the BGMEA appeal and upheld the HC order.

The SC, in its full verdict on 8 November last year, asked the BGMEA to demolish its building ‘BGMEA Bhaban’ situated on the water body of Begunbari canal and Hatirjheel lake at once, at its own cost.

The Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) was also given directives to demolish the building, if the BGMEA does not to do so within 90 days after getting a copy of the verdict. On December 8 last year, the BGMEA president filed a petition for a review of the top court’s verdict.

But the BGMEA review plea was also turned down by the apex court and finally the apex court had on March 12 allowed six months more time for the BGMEA to demolish the building. In 1998, the then prime minister Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation stone of the building. In 2006, the then prime minister Khaleda Zia inaugurated the building.

Demolishing BGMEA Complex

SC fixes Oct 5 for hearing on time plea

The Chamber court of the Appellate Division yesterday extended till October 5 its earlier order directing the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) to relocate its building by six-month from Hatirjheel area in Dhaka. Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Justice Hassan Foez Siddiq passed the order in response to a petition filed by BGMEA on August 23 seeking one year time for relocating the multi-storey building. The chamber judge also sent the petition to the full bench of the Appellate Division and fixed October 5 for hearing on the time petition. Barrister Imtiaz Moinul Islam and Advocate Kamrul Haque Siddiq appeared for BGMEA. In the petition, the garment makers requested the apex court to postpone the demolition of the controversial BGMEA office for a year as they are not fully prepared to flatten such a big building. The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court had on March 12 ordered the BGMEA authority to start the demolition of the 15-storey building within six months or by September 12. A three-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha allowed the time in its order in response to a petition filed by the BGMEA authority seeking three years time for shifting its headquarters from the 15-storey BGMEA Bhaban and demolish the building. On April 13, 2011, the HC had ordered the authorities concerned to demolish the 15-storey BGMEA building on the Begunbari-Hatirjheel canal, saying it was built on land acquired through forgery and illegally filling up the canal. Later, the Appellate Division stayed the HC judgment following a BGMEA petition. A four-member Appellate Division bench headed by the chief justice, in its final verdict on June 2 last year, dismissing the BGMEA appeal and upheld the HC order. The SC, in its full verdict on 8 November last year, asked the BGMEA to demolish its building BGMEA Bhaban situated on the water body of Begunbari canal and Hatirjheel lake at once, at its own cost. The Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) was also given directives to demolish the building, if the BGMEA does not to do so within 90 days after getting a copy of the verdict. On December 8 last year, the BGMEA president filed a petition for a review of the top courts verdict. But the BGMEA review plea was also turned down by the apex court and finally the apex court had on March 12 allowed six months more time for the BGMEA to demolish the building. In 1998, the then prime minister Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation stone of the building. In 2006, the then prime minister Khaleda Zia inaugurated the building.