Don't build market on Agargaon canal: HC

The High Court yesterday directed the government to stop construction of a 17-storey market building by grabbing the land of a canal at Agargaon in the capital's Mirpur area in 48 hours.

Responding to a writ petition, it asked the authorities concerned to submit a report before it in two weeks after complying with the order.

It issued a rule asking the authorities to explain in four weeks why their inaction to stop encroachment of the canal and construction of the structure by Momota Cooperative Society on its land should not be declared illegal.

It also asked the authorities to show cause as to why Momota Cooperative Society should not be directed to remove the soil already dumped into the canal and the structure at its own cost.

It also asked them to explain why they should not be ordered to protect the canal under the cadastral survey and revisional survey.

Forest and environment secretary, director general of the Department of Environment (DoE) and its director (enforcement), managing director of Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa), deputy commissioner of Dhaka, commissioner of Dhaka metropolitan police, chief engineer of power development board and executive engineer of its division-2, assistant commissioner of land of Mirpur, officer-in-charge of Mirpur Police Station and president and secretary of Momota Cooperative Society have been made respondents to the rule.

Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh recently filed the petition following a report published by a Bangla national daily on November 2 saying that Momota Cooperative Society, a private business organisation, has been constructing a 17-storey building for a market grabbing the land of Agargaon canal in Mirpur.

Yesterday, petitioner's lawyer Manzill Murshid told the court that the DoE and administration have not taken any steps, although construction of structure is going on by grabbing the canal land at the centre point in Dhaka.

Deputy Attorney General Motaher Hossain Sazu represented the government.