The High Court today issued a restriction on construction of some makeshift shops on the footpaths in Motijheel area of Dhaka.

The court also issued a rule upon the authorities concerned to explain in four weeks as to why they should not be directed to demolish the structures already constructed on the footpaths.

The court order came following a report recently published on Bangla daily Prothom Alo. According to the report, some influential people have been constructing at least 200 concrete structures near a kitchen market.

In the rule, the court asked the authorities to explain as to why allocation of this place for constructing structures at Ideal and Al Helal zone in Motijheel area in the name of rehabilitation of freedom fighters should not be declared illegal.

The HC bench of Justice Syed Muhammad Dastagir Hussain and AKM Shahidul Huq came up with the rule following a writ petition filed by 30 local people.  

The construction of the structures is creating obstruction for pedestrians in the area, said Redwan Ahmed, lawyer for the petitioners.

They are doing this in the name of rehabilitation of the freedom fighters, violating the move of Dhaka City Corporation to evict those structures, he said.

The LGRD secretary, mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation and six others concerned have been made respondents to the rule.