Remove illegal structures from Karnaphuli bank

High Court directs government

The High Court (HC) yesterday directed the government to remove 2,181 illegal structures from the banks of the Karnaphuli river in Chittagong. An HC bench comprising Justice Md Rezaul Hasan and Justice Kashefa Hussain gave the order after the final hearing on a public interest litigation filed by the Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB). The court, however, asked the Chittagong Coast Guard, Chittagong Port Authority, and Bangladesh Navy to get environment clearance certificates from the department of environment for their structures built on the river bank to avoid relocation. The secretary of the Chittagong Development Authority, chief executive director of the Chittagong city corporation, chairman of the BIWTA, and the Chittagong deputy commissioner have been asked to publish notifications in two local dailies within a week of receiving the order copy, asking owners of illegal structures to remove them within 90 days. The court asked the department of environment, police, and Chittagong deputy commissioner to start a demolition drive to remove structures that remained after the 90-day deadline and accordingly file a progress report. The HC asked the director general of the environment department to remove the illegal structures from the river bank within 90 days.
The Chittagong deputy commissioner and Chittagong metropolitan police have been asked to assist the authorities concerned in removing the unauthorised structures. Earlier, on July 18, 2010, the HC, responding to the HRPB petition, had ordered the government to prevent all encroachment, earth filling, and construction of structures along the Karnaphuli river in Chittagong for the next three months to halt impingement.
It had issued a rule, asking the government to explain within three weeks why it should not be directed to remove all structures from the river bank.
The HC bench had also directed the deputy commissioner of Chittagong to submit a report on the illegal structures.
The DC on November 8 filed back, stating that 2,181 structures had been built illegally on the banks of the river. During the hearing on the rule, advocate Manzill Murshid, counsel for the HRPB, told the court that the Karnaphuli had kept the Chittagong seaport active. If the encroachment and construction were to continue, the river would would eventually face extinction, affecting the country's economy, he added.
After the hearing on the rule, the HC bench yesterday issued the order.

 

Remove illegal structures from Karnaphuli bank

High Court directs government

The High Court (HC) yesterday directed the government to remove 2,181 illegal structures from the banks of the Karnaphuli river in Chittagong. An HC bench comprising Justice Md Rezaul Hasan and Justice Kashefa Hussain gave the order after the final hearing on a public interest litigation filed by the Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB). The court, however, asked the Chittagong Coast Guard, Chittagong Port Authority, and Bangladesh Navy to get environment clearance certificates from the department of environment for their structures built on the river bank to avoid relocation. The secretary of the Chittagong Development Authority, chief executive director of the Chittagong city corporation, chairman of the BIWTA, and the Chittagong deputy commissioner have been asked to publish notifications in two local dailies within a week of receiving the order copy, asking owners of illegal structures to remove them within 90 days. The court asked the department of environment, police, and Chittagong deputy commissioner to start a demolition drive to remove structures that remained after the 90-day deadline and accordingly file a progress report. The HC asked the director general of the environment department to remove the illegal structures from the river bank within 90 days. The Chittagong deputy commissioner and Chittagong metropolitan police have been asked to assist the authorities concerned in removing the unauthorised structures. Earlier, on July 18, 2010, the HC, responding to the HRPB petition, had ordered the government to prevent all encroachment, earth filling, and construction of structures along the Karnaphuli river in Chittagong for the next three months to halt impingement. It had issued a rule, asking the government to explain within three weeks why it should not be directed to remove all structures from the river bank. The HC bench had also directed the deputy commissioner of Chittagong to submit a report on the illegal structures. The DC on November 8 filed back, stating that 2,181 structures had been built illegally on the banks of the river. During the hearing on the rule, advocate Manzill Murshid, counsel for the HRPB, told the court that the Karnaphuli had kept the Chittagong seaport active. If the encroachment and construction were to continue, the river would would eventually face extinction, affecting the countrys economy, he added. After the hearing on the rule, the HC bench yesterday issued the order.