Court stays Sutki river restoration order after Daily Star report

A Habiganj district judge's court has stayed the restoration order of Sutki river.

Earlier on December 14, 2021, Habiganj Joint District Judge Mithila Islam directed to register 242 acres of 20 decimal land of Sutki river in the name of Yahya Fish Industries Pvt Ltd.

After a report titled "Sutki river remains in the grip of a family for centuries" published in The Daily Star on March 16 and followed by an editorial, multimedia and Bangla news, many raised questions about the ownership of the river.

Later on March 21, the Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) filed a revision case against the lower court order on behalf of the district administration.

At the same time, he applied for the stay order of the lower court's order.

Following the hearing of the petition on Thursday (April 7) afternoon, District Judge Mohammad Hasanul Islam adjourned the case till July 4, reports our Moulvibazar correspondent quoting Public Prosecutor Afil Uddin.

Tofazzal Sohel, general secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon's Habiganj unit, told The Daily Star that he has been witnessing the politics centring a river.

The whole story depicts corruption at a very high level, which made it difficult to reach a solution, he said.

It is unacceptable that a river would be held hostage to a family's greed and corruption, he said, adding that when the news was published in The Daily Star, the administration finally intervened and court stayed the order.