6 months' injunction on market construction at Laldighi

The High Court today issued an injunction on constructing a building for a market on the bank of historical Laldighi, a public water body in Cox’s Bazar town, for next six months.

The court also issued a rule upon the authorities concerned of the government to explain in four weeks why they should not be directed to stop construction of the building and to protect Laldighi from earth filling and encroachment.

The bench of Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury and Justice Md Ataur Rahman Khan came up with the order and rule following a writ petition filed by Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela), an environmentalist organisation.

The Bela filed the petition last week seeking direction from the HC to the authorities concerned to protect the Laldighi from encroachment and earth filling.

The petition stated that authorities of Cox’s Bazar municipality have been constructing a building for market on the western bank of Laldighi, measuring 1.23 acres of lands, in violation of relevant laws.

Secretaries to the ministries of land, and environment and forest, director general of department of environment, deputy commissioner and superintendent of police of Chittagong, and mayor of Cox’s Bazar municipality and other relevant officials were made respondents to the rule.

Advocate Minhazul Hoque Chowdhury appeared for Bela, while Deputy Attorney General Tapas Kumar Biswas represented the government.