HC asks about govt decisions
The High Court yesterday wanted to know the government's decision about the old trees at capital's historic Suhrawardy Udyan, an integral part of Liberation War history.
The court sought for the resolution of a meeting organised by the liberation war affairs ministry on this issue on June 24, with its minister AKM Mozammel Haque in the chair.
The HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice SM Maniruzzaman asked Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Samarendra Nath Biswas to collect the resolution from the ministry and to submit it to this court in two weeks.
The bench passed the order while hearing on a writ petition filed to seek its directive on the government to not cut trees and damage the environment and characteristics of Suhrawardy Udyan.
It set July 15 for further hearing on the petition.
DAG Samarendra Nath Biswas told the HC that the government has suspended the process of cutting trees at Suhrawardy Udyan.
Liberation Minister AKM Mozammel Haque held a meeting on June 24 on this issue, but the resolution of the meeting's decision was yet to be finalised, he said, adding that he will submit the resolution to the court when he receives it.
Lawyer Syeda Rizwana Hasan appeared for the writ petitioners during the virtual hearing of the petition.
Earlier on May 20 this year, the HC bench expressed hope that the problems regarding Suhrawardy Udyan's tree-felling will be resolved amicably, through discussions between the government and environmentalists.
Rights organisations Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela), Association for Land Reforms and Development (ALRD), Nijera Kori, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa) and Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), and architect Mubasshir Hossain collectively filed the writ petition with the HC on May 9 this year seeking its directive on the government not to cut trees and not to damage environment and natural characteristics at Suhrawardy Udyan.
Following another writ petition, the HC on July 7, 2009 directed the government to identify and preserve all the important historic places related to the Liberation War and to set up memorial monuments at the historic places at Suhrawardy Udyan maintaining international standard, so that people from home and abroad can pay homage to martyred freedom fighters.
The HC had ordered the government to take steps to protect and maintain the historic places at Suhrawardy Udyan where Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered his historic speech on March 7 in 1971 and where Pakistani army surrendered on December 16, 1971.
Suhrawardy Udyan also include places where Bangabandhu gave his speech on January 10, 1972, after his return to the country from exile, and where Indira Gandhi, then prime minister of India, greeted Bangabandhu on March 17, 1972.
Comments