Why Gabkhan Channel should not be restored, HC asks govt
The High Court today issued a rule asking the authorities concerned of the government to explain why they should not be directed to restore the Gabkhan Channel in Jhalakathi to its original condition through removing the sand.
The High Court bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice KM Hafizul Alam issued the rule following a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Kazi Mynul Hassan.
The lawyer prayed to the HC to issue a rule asking authorities concerned to explain why establishment and construction of the illegal dock at Gabkhan channel should not be declared illegal.
The shipping secretary, deputy commissioner and superintendent of police of Jhalakathi and joint director (Port) of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), Barisal Port have been made respondents to the rule.
He submitted the petition to the High Court on September 9 following a report published on the same day in The Daily Star titled “Gabkhan Channel: Narrowed by illegal dock”.
The report said that a part of the century-old Gabkhan channel has been turned into a temporary dock in Jhalakathi Sadar for loading and unloading construction materials for a nearby highway.
As a result, the 18km canal, the country's only man-made naval route, has become narrow at the point, disrupting vessel movement.
Known as the “Suez Canal of Bangladesh”, the Gabkhan channel connects Jhalakathi and Pirojpur, two southern districts. Every day, goods-laden vessels, including international ones, operate on it.
The dock was set up nearly three months ago on the western side of the canal, near Gabkhan Bridge, because of its proximity to the under-construction highway linking Barisal and Khulna. The work is expected to end within December next year.
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