Injunction on Ashiyan City stays

The injunction placed on Ashiyan City in August last year has been extended, barring its authorities to sell plots or advertise the housing project located in Uttara and adjacent areas.

A three-member bench of the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha passed the order, extending a freeze on a High Court order.

Previously, the High Court had ruled the housing project as legal. The government and eight rights organizations moved two separate appeals after the verdict.

Advocate Syeda Rizwana Hasan, a lawyer for the rights organisations, told The Daily Star Ashiyan City authorities cannot continue activities of their projects following the order.

Following a writ petition, the High Court on January 16, 2014 had declared the Ashiyan City housing project illegal. The right organisations are- Ain O Salish Kendra, Association for Land Reforms and Development, Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust, Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon, Institute of Architects Bangladesh, Nijera Kori, and Paribesh Bachao Andolon that had filed the petition on December 22, 2012.

Then Ashiyan City authorities filed a petition with the High Court seeking review of its verdict. The High Court scrapped its earlier verdict, leading to its legalization.

Following the appeals from government and rights groups, the apex court on August 22 last year issued in injunction barring the activities of the housing project.