HC scraps earlier verdict declaring Ashiyan City illegal

The High Court today scrapped its earlier verdict that had declared the Ashiyan City housing project in Dhaka’s Holan and Ashkona illegal.

A three-member bench of the High court led by Justice AB Mahmudul Huq delivered the judgment after reviewing its January 16, 2014 verdict that declared the project “illegal and against public interest”.

The project authorities then filed a petition with the High Court seeking review of the judgment.

Today, the HC said in the judgment that the review petition is allowed and the earlier judgment is cancelled.

Ashiyana City’s lawyer Barrister Mostafizur Rahman Khan told The Daily Star that the authorities can now run the project following today’s verdict.

The HC came up with the January 16, 2014 verdict following a writ petition by eight rights organisations -- 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 had filed the petition on December 22, 2012.

After today’s verdict, writ petitioners’ lawyer Syeda Rizwana Hossain however said whether the Ashiyan City housing project is legal or not, it cannot be said at this moment without receiving the full HC judgment.

She also said that they would move an appeal before the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court challenging today’s High Court verdict.