A petition has been filed with the High Court seeking its directive on the home secretary to conduct an inquiry into the position and possession of Ramna Park including its natural environment and cost for its reconstruction during and before the pandemic.

Supreme Court lawyer Md Eunus Ali Akond submitted the petition to the HC on September 24 as a supplementary to his September 8 writ petition that sought an order on the government to reopen the park in 24 hours.

In the supplementary petition, he said the authorities concerned are destroying the natural environment of Ramna Park by cutting its trees and grass and by changing its land, footpaths in the name of so-called reconstruction, causing a loss of crores of taka. Tk 47 crore has reportedly been allocated for the so-called development and reconstruction of its lake and some other things. The lawyer told The Daily Star yesterday that the HC may hold hearing today on both the petitions.

On September 8, Advocate Eunus Ali Akond filed a writ petition with the HC seeking its directive on the secretary to the ministry of housing and public works to reopen Ramna Park in Dhaka in 24 hours so that people can walk and move.

The HC on September 17 wanted to know why the authorities concerned of the government are not reopening the park. On September 24, Deputy Attorney General Noor-Us Sadik informed the HC that Ramna Park was closed for people's safety and security during the Covid-19 pandemic. The authorities will reopen it if the HC orders, he said.

The HC bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Md Khairul Alam on Thursday fixed September 27 for passing order on the petition.

On September 8, Eunus submitted the writ petition as public interest litigation, praying to HC to issue a rule asking the housing and public works secretary to explain why closure of Ramna Park should not be declared illegal.