Demolish BGMEA building in 90 days: HC

The High Court releasing the full text of a verdict on Tuesday ordered the government to demolish the BGMEA building within 90 days and use the land in public interest.

Declaring the structure illegal, the court directed the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) to return money to those who bought flats in the building in 12 months.

The HC observing that the building stands in the capital’s Hatirjheel project like a cancerous growth, and it will swamp the whole city unless it is evaporated forthwith.

Although the verdict is now stayed on a Supreme Court order of 2011, the HC released the 69-page judgment after Justice AHM Shamsuddin Choudhury Manik and Justice Sheikh Md Zakir Hossain signed it on Monday night, court sources said.

The judges on April 3, 2011 had announced the verdict after holding hearing on a suo moto rule the HC had issued over the legality of the building.

The SC on April 5, 2011 had stayed the verdict for six weeks and asked the BGMEA to file a leave to appeal petition against the HC verdict on receiving its certified copy within six weeks.

The apex court has passed the stay order following a petition by then BGMEA president Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin seeking stay on the HC verdict.

Later on, the SC extended the stay order since the full verdict of the HC was not released.

Deputy Attorney General Amit Talukder told The Daily Star on Tuesday that the issue regarding the building will now be settled at the Appellate Division, as the BGMEA can file a leave to appeal petition on receiving the HC verdict.