No more high-rises near Lalbagh Fort

The High Court yesterday directed the government not to allow construction of any high-rises near the historical Lalbagh Fort in Old Dhaka as a step toward protecting and preserving the heritage site.
Delivering a verdict on a writ petition, the court also ordered the authorities to properly implement Antiquities Act 1968 and Building Construction Rules 2008 in respect of constructing any structure near the fort.
According to the law and rules, no structures can be built by damaging the beauty, nature, and existence of any archaeological site and heritage, Manzill Murshid, counsel for the petitioner, told The Daily Star.
The HC bench of Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik and Justice Jahangir Hossain came up with the verdict after hearing the petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB).
The HRPB filed the petition as public interest litigation on December 5, 2010, seeking directions on the respondents to implement the Antiquities Act 1968 and Building Construction Rules 2008 for protecting and preserving the fort.
On the same day, the HC directed police to take steps to stop the construction works near the boundary of Lalbagh Fort and issued a rule upon the government to explain why it should not be directed to implement the relevant law and rules for protecting the natural beauty and existence of the fort.
Deputy Attorney General ABM Altaf Hossain stood for the government.