HC asks to clear illegal structures from Karnaphuli
The High Court has ordered the Chattogram Port Authority to remove illegal structures from the banks of Karnaphuli River and report back in 30 days.
A judges’ bench passed the order on Tuesday in repose to a petition filed by the Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh.
Lawyer Manzill Murshid represented the petitioner at the hearing, reports bdnews24.com.
The High Court had ordered five defendants, including the deputy commissioner, to clear illegal establishments in response to a petition filed by the group earlier. “But the drive was suddenly stopped,” said Murshid.
“In the latest petition, we appealed to the court to order the CPA chairman to take measures on clearing establishments illegally set up on land mostly owned by the port.”
The court’s next order is scheduled for May 19.
In 2010, a report on encroaching the banks of Karnaphuli river was published in the media.
Later, the group filed a petition with the media reports for the interest of people.
After hearing the petition on Aug 16, 2016, the HC ordered the clearing of 2,187 establishments illegally set up on the banks of Karnaphuli river.
It had also ordered the district’s deputy commissioner to serve notice on the owners within seven days asking them to remove the illegal structures within 90 days from the date of notice publications in newspapers.
