The structures constructed by BIWTA in Sadarghat area of Dhaka have to be used only for the passengers' interest, ordered the Supreme Court yesterday.

It also cleared the way for Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) to continue allocating its newly erected four-storey building on Bakland embankment at Sadarghat for passengers' interest.

The apex court stayed a High Court verdict that directed the BIWTA to allocate the building for 118 writ petitioners who are businessmen, BIWTA's lawyer Manzill Murshid told The Daily Star.

A three-member bench of the Appellate Division of the SC passed the order following an appeal filed by BIWTA challenging the HC verdict.

Advocate Manzill said the HC in 2009 delivered a verdict that all the structures at four rivers -- the Buriganga, Shitalakkhya, Balu and Turag -- have to be demolished except for public interest and passengers' wellbeing. The Appellate Division has upheld the HC verdict.

In line with the HC verdict, BIWTA evicted 118 businessmen from the building on Bakland embankment in 2014.

The businessmen then filed a writ petition with the HC challenging their eviction. The HC on December 13 last year directed the BIWTA to allocate the building for the 118 writ petitioners, the BIWTA lawyer added.

Advocate Zakir Hossain argued for the petitioners.