SC clears way for government to recover Turag river land
The Supreme Court today cleared the way for the government to recover the land of Turag river from illegal possession of Nishut Jute Mills Ltd of Hameem Group, and Hossain Dyeing and Printing Mills Ltd of Anwar Group.
A four-member bench of the Appellate Division of the SC, headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, passed the order after hearing two separate appeals filed by Nishut Jute Mills Ltd and Hossain Dyeing and Printing Mills Ltd challenging a High Court verdict on this matter.
Following a writ petition filed by the Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB), the HC on February 3 last year declared the Turag river a “legal person” and a “living entity” and also directed the authorities concerned to free the river from all kinds of encroachment.
Later, Nishut Jute Mills Ltd and Hossain Dyeing and Printing Mills Ltd filed separate appeals with the SC challenging the HC verdict.
Today, the apex court disposed of both the appeals.
Advocate Manzill Murshid, HRPB’s lawyer, told The Daily Star that there is no legal bar on the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BITWA) to demolish and remove structures illegally built on the land of Turag river following the SC order.
He said the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Gazipur has submitted a probe report before the HC on October 11, 2017 saying that Nishut Jute Mills has occupied 150 feet and 170 feet of land and Hossain Dyeing and Printing Mills has occupied 159 feet and 166 feet of land of Turag river.
The HC delivered the verdict after accepting the probe report, Murshid said.
He also said the SC yesterday removed a part of the HC verdict that declared the lease of the land of Turag river by Nishut Jute Mills Ltd “void ab initio” meaning invalid from the outset.
Advocate M Asaduzzaman, a lawyer for Nishut Jute Mills Ltd, told this correspondent that the lease obtained by his client from the government is valid following the SC order.
The authorities can demolish the illegal structures, if any, on the land of Nishut Jute Mills Ltd, he added.
Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud also appeared for Nishut Jute Mills Ltd, while Barrister Mohammad Mehedi Hasan Chowdhury appeared for Hossain Dyeing and Printing Mills, and Advocate Mafizur Rahman represented BIWTA.
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