The High Court (HC) yesterday ordered the chairman of the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) to remove all illegal structures along the Karnaphuli river within three months. It also ordered the government to suspend the utility services of those structures before starting the eviction drives.

The HC bench, comprising Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam and Justice Mohammad Ali, came up with the orders after exonerating the CPA chairman from personal appearance, who appeared yesterday before the bench in line with its previous order. It also directed members of law enforcement agencies to assist the CPA in removing the illegal structures from the riverbank.

The court also ordered the CPA to submit a compliance report before it within three months. It fixed May 12 for delivering further order over the matter.

During the court proceedings, advocate Manzill Murshid, counsel for the petitioner, told the court that some of the illegal structures were demolished on the river bank following a HC directive given in 2016. But there are many still standing which need to be demolished, he added.

Following the 2016 HC order, the Chattogram district administration started a drive on the Karnaphuli river bank in the port city to demolish illegal structures. On August 16, 2016, the HC had directed the authorities concerned to remove

2,181 structures illegally built on the banks of the Karnaphuli river in Chattogram. After demolishing some illegal structures, the authorities concerned, however, stopped their drives.

Last year, Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) filed a supplementary petition seeking the HC’s directive over the matter. After hearing the petition, the HC bench on April 10 last year sought a report from the CAP within 30 days regarding the eviction drive targeting illegal structures along the Karnaphuli river.

After the HC order, the CPA conducted drives against illegal structures, but it also stopped after removing some of the illegal structures. Later, the HRPB filed a petition seeking personal appearance of the CPA chairman before the court.  The HC earlier summoned the CPA chairman and fixed February 11 for passing its order.

After appearing before the HC bench, the CPA chairman sought time to remove all illegal structures as there were some difficulties in cutting the utility services of those structures. Later, the court gave three more months to the CPA for removal of all illegal structures from the Karnaphuli riverbank.

Advocate Manzill Murshid appeared for the petitioner, while additional attorney general Murad Reza moved on behalf of the CPA chairman.