Karnaphuli Eviction Drive: Demolish illegal part of cold storage: SC

The Supreme Court (SC) yesterday cleared the way for Chattogram district administration to demolish a part of the Karnaphuli cold storage building, illegally built on the bank of Karnaphuli river. 

A four-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order after dismissing a petition by Karnaphuli Ship Builders Ltd, owner of the cold storage building, seeking a stay on the demolition.

Following the SC order, there is no bar on the administration to knock down the part of the building built illegally on the riverbank, said Advocate Manzill Murshid, lawyer for the writ petitioner.

He said following a writ petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB), the HC on August 16, 2016 directed the authorities concerned to remove 2,181 structures illegally built on the Karnaphuli river.

Chattogram district administration on February 4 this year started a drive to knock down illegal structures.

Subsequently on April 6, Karnaphuli Ship Builders Ltd moved a petition before the SC chamber judge, seeking a stay on the demolition of its cold storage building.

On the same day, the apex court chamber judge directed the authorities to maintain a status quo on demolition of the building and sent the petition to its full bench for hearing the issue.

After hearing, the apex court's full bench dismissed the petition.

Following another petition filed by HRPB, the HC on April 9 directed the chairman of Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) to immediately take necessary steps for eviction of illegal structures along the Karnaphuli river in the port area.

The court also asked the CPA chairman to submit a report before it after complying with the directive in 30 days.

Advocate AM Aminuddin and Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh appeared for Karnaphuli Ship Builders Ltd.