Evict all restaurants, shops in Hatirjheel-Begunbari within 60 days: High Court

The High Court today observed that the Hatirjheel-Begunbari project is the lung of Dhaka city and its protection is imperative.

Issuing several directives, the HC also declared all business structures including hotels, restaurants and shops built under Hatirjheel-Begunbari project illegal and ordered the government to evict them in 60 days.

While delivering the verdict on a writ petition, the court advised the authorities concerned of the government to name the project after famed scientist Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose.

The HC also prohibited construction of any business structure under the project and ruled that a separate committee be constituted to protect, develop and operate it under the supervision of the prime minister.

The court ordered the authorities to engage the engineering department of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and 24th brigade of the army as permanent consultants of the Hatirjheel-Begunbari project.

The authorities have been directed to build a sanctuary in the project area.

The HC bench of Justice Md Ashraful Kamal and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil came up with the directives following the writ petition filed by lawyer Ripan Barai on behalf of rights organization, Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB), on September 9, 2018. The petition challenged the legality of the construction work in Hatirjheel-Begunbari project.

The full text of the HC verdict was not released today.

During hearing on the petition, petitioner's counsel Manzill Murshid told the HC that some structures including restaurants have been built in the project area illegally, which are obstructing free movement of people in the area and have damaged the beauty of the project.

The aesthetics of Hatirjheel-Begunbari project is being damaged due to construction of structures beyond the layout plan, he argued.