The High Court yesterday directed the authorities to stop in constructing the commercial structures in the residential area at Rankin Street in Wari area of Dhaka. In response to a writ petition, the HC bench comprising Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo came up with the order. The HC bench also issued a rule asking the authorities to explain why the construction of commercial structures in the residential area should not be declared illegal. Land secretary, deputy commissioner of Dhaka, chairman of RAJUK, mayor of DSC , and managing directors of the four developing companies have been made respondents to reply to the rule within four weeks.
Advocate Sakina Begum, a Supreme Court lawyer, who is also a resident of Rankin Street, filed the writ petition with the HC seeking its directive over the matter. Four developer companies----Home Stone Ltd, Rupayan Development, AK Housing Ltd, and Green Home Ltd----- have been constructing several structures at that area for commercial purposes. They have been constructing commercial buildings in the residential area violating laws, Advocate Masud Ahmed Sayeed, counsel for the petitioner said adding that according to West Pakistan Manual-1958, the plots cannot be used for commercial purposes.