Stop ‘leasing’ Dhaka footpaths: HC

The High Court yesterday directed the government authorities concerned to stop "leasing" footpaths in Dhaka in seven days and take legal action against the offenders.

Chief executive officers of two Dhaka city corporations, additional police commissioner (traffic) and two joint police commissioners (traffic) of Dhaka, and deputy commissioners and officers-in-charge of 15 police stations of Dhaka were asked to comply with the directives.

Besides, the HC ordered the government to constitute a five-member high-powered committee to find out the "leasers", make a list of their names and submit it to the court in 60 days.

The two city mayors and secretaries at the ministries of home, local government, rural development and cooperatives were ordered to form the committee.

The HC also issued a rule asking the officials concerned to explain in four weeks why their inaction to stop "selling and leasing" footpaths should not be declared illegal.

The HC bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo delivered the orders and issued the rule following a writ petition filed as a public interest litigation by lawyers Md Sarwar Ahad Chowdhury and Ripan Barai on behalf of Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh on November 20.

During the hearing, HRPB's lawyer Manzill Murshid told the HC yesterday that common people are being victims of the anarchy caused by the grabbing, "leasing and selling" of footpaths in Dhaka.

Deputy Attorney General Arobinda Kumar Roy represented the state during the court proceedings.