Dhanmondi Playground. Star file photo

A High Court judge today felt embarrassed to hear a writ petition seeking its directives on the government authorities to remove illegal structures from the Dhanmondi-8 public playground in the capital and to ensure people's access to the open space.

The playground was opened to the public on April 24, days after protests by green activists, but the structures built by Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, which had illegally occupied the field for two years, stayed there as before.

The senior judge of the two-member bench, Justice Farah Mahbub, said, “One of us felt embarrassed to hear the petition due to personal difficulties.”  She however did not disclose the name of the judge who felt embarrassed.

Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo is the junior member of the bench.

Additional Attorney General Murad Reza told The Daily Star the HC bench will send the petition to Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain, who will refer it to another HC bench for its hearing and disposal.

Earlier on April 28, Justice Salma Masud Chowdhury and Justice Md Habibul Gani judges of a division bench of the HC had refused to hear the petition.

Six environmentalists including Mobassher Hossain, former president of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, filed the writ petition on April 22.