SC gives BGMEA 6 months to demolish Hatirjheel building

The fate of the ‘BGMEA Bhaban’ built illegally on Hatirjheel Lake in the capital by Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), has finally been sealed and the building must be pulled down within the next six months as the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court yesterday allowed six months’ time to the RMG apex trade body to demolish the structure. As all legal options have been exhausted with the Appellate Division order, the BGMEA now has no other option but to demolish the building that also houses its headquarters.
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.
The petition was filed on March 8, three days after the Appellate Division rejected BGMEA’s petition for a review of its verdict that had upheld a High Court order that directed the authorities concerned to demolish the unauthorised multi-storey office building at Hatirjheel in Dhaka. The apex court had also asked the trade body to file a petition by March 9 mentioning the time it needed to relocate 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.
The HC also said the BGMEA did not take approval for its plan and construction from Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk). It had then ordered the tenants to vacate the building and move their belongings within 90 days. The High Court, in its verdict, called the BGMEA building ‘a cancerous growth’ that eclipsed Hatirjheel, a beauty spot of the capital.
Later, the Appellate Division stayed the HC judgement 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 yesterday 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.

SC gives BGMEA 6 months to demolish Hatirjheel building

The fate of the BGMEA Bhaban built illegally on Hatirjheel Lake in the capital by Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), has finally been sealed and the building must be pulled down within the next six months as the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court yesterday allowed six months time to the RMG apex trade body to demolish the structure. As all legal options have been exhausted with the Appellate Division order, the BGMEA now has no other option but to demolish the building that also houses its headquarters. 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. The petition was filed on March 8, three days after the Appellate Division rejected BGMEAs petition for a review of its verdict that had upheld a High Court order that directed the authorities concerned to demolish the unauthorised multi-storey office building at Hatirjheel in Dhaka. The apex court had also asked the trade body to file a petition by March 9 mentioning the time it needed to relocate 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. The HC also said the BGMEA did not take approval for its plan and construction from Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk). It had then ordered the tenants to vacate the building and move their belongings within 90 days. The High Court, in its verdict, called the BGMEA building a cancerous growth that eclipsed Hatirjheel, a beauty spot of the capital. Later, the Appellate Division stayed the HC judgement 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 yesterday 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.