The High Court today directed the authorities to demolish all structures, excluding a grave, on the land of the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka by the next 72 hours.

The court also observed that no structure should have been allowed on the land of the Central Shaheed Minar, as it was set up to uphold the spirit of the Language Movement and to pay tributes to its heroes.

The HC bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Abu Taher Md Saifur Rahman came up with the verdict following a writ petition filed by Prof Muntassir Mamoon, a teacher of Dhaka University.

Petitioner's counsel Manzill Murshid told The Daily Star that the HC in 2010, following another writ petition moved by him, had issued eight directives upon the government to protect sanctity and dignity of the Central Shaheed Minar.

It had directed the authorities to set up a museum at any side of the Central Shaheed Minar and take effective measures so that no unsocial activities can take place there, he said.

Manzill also said he would submit a petition to the HC seeking its further directives on the authorities to set up the museum after the structures from the land of the Shaheed Minar will be demolished.  

Prof Muntassir Mamoon filed the writ petition with the HC in February 2012 saying that a vested group has reportedly occupied the land of the Central Shaheed Minar for a mazar, centring the grave, and was planning to construct a high-rise building which may damage the sanctity of the Shaheed Minar.

The HC then ordered the authorities to demolish the structures on the land of the Central Shaheed Minar, but they did not fully implement the directives, Manzill Murshid added.