The High Court today upheld a government decision that cancelled an agreement with the company of Golam Kibria Shamim alias GK Shamim, for constructing a 20-storey building at Azimpur Government Colony in Dhaka.

The court rejected a writ petition filed by Shamim, an influential contractor of the Public Works Department and an expelled Jubo League leader who is now in jail, challenging the legality of the government decision.

The bench of Justice Tariq ul Hakim and Justice SM Kuddus Zaman passed the rejection order considering that the petition was not placed properly.

Barrister Moudud Ahmed and Barrister Abdullah Al Mahmud appeared for the writ petitioner while Additional Attorney General Murad Reza and Deputy Attorney General Amit Dasgupta represented the state during virtual hearing on the petition.

Lawyer Abdullah Al Mahmud told reporters that the government on February 16 this year cancelled the agreement with GKB & Compnay owned by GK Shamim, for constructing the 20-storey building at Azimpur colony as the works of the project were not finished in due time since the owner of the company is in jail.

On September 20 last year, a team of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested Shamim on charges of extortion and tender manipulation.