(top-bottom)Chittagong Court Building . Illegal structures including the tin-shed ones mushrooms the court hill area. Photo: Anurup Kanti Das

It is almost impossible for visitors today to enjoy the view of the port city, which they once could, from the hilltop of Chittagong Court Building as illegal structures have been constructed around it.
Many semi-pucca buildings have also been constructed in front of the building in the name of different organisations. Sand sacks have been kept, bamboo fences erected and bamboo platforms constructed to run slums and hotels on the slopes of the hill to occupy the court areas.
Chittagong Court Building is such a beautiful, historical and heritage site in the country that it can draw a huge number of visitors.
Necessary open space is needed to observe the architectural design and enjoy the ecstatic beauty of the building.
Unfortunately only a small yard remains in front of the building, depriving visitors from seeing the building's beauty and the city view.
The court building, a landmark of the country as well as the port city, is situated at Parir Pahar (Fairy's hill) surrounding important buildings like Chittagong Development Authority, Bangladesh Bank, New Market, District Council and Jahur Hawker Market.
British Government bought the hill from Zaminder Akhil Chandra Sen to build the building. The building is a witness to many historical events of anti-British struggle including quit India movement, Swadeshi Andolan, Language Movement and War of Liberation in 1971. The trial of Masterda Surya Sen and other revolutionaries like Lakonath Bol, Ambika Chakraborty and Ananta Singh was held in the building.
Under pressure from civil society and environmentalists, the building's renovation work started during the caretaker government in 2007 with a view to retain the original structural shape and to preserve the building.
Public Welfare Department (PWD), present owner of the hill, handed over the responsibilities to National Development Engineers Limited to refurbish the traditional building, a move welcomed by the city dwellers as well as the people of the country.
A new and modern four-storied court building covering over 2.46 lakh square feet area was also constructed on the hill and the renovation work is going on in full swing.
But conscious citizens said the illegal structures are not only hampering the scenic and ecstatic beauty of the building but also turning the area into a place of criminal activities.
Sources said some influential officials and staff of deputy commissioner's office are constructing the illegal structures cutting the slopes of the hill and renting those.
Chittagong District Bar Association (CDBA) President Advocate Salehuddin Haidar Siddique told The Daily Star that the court building is the highest place for practicing law but a section of people are destroying the environment.
“If the authority tries, it will be possible to remove all the illegal structures,” Salehuddin added.
CDBA General Secretary Advocate Mahbubul Alam said they urged the authorities concerned to remove all illegal structures on the court building premises and slope of the hill to retain the panoramic beauty of the city as well as the building.
Mahbubul said all the court activities are running in the semi-pucca buildings in a precarious condition.
Architect Zarina Hossain said a park-like open space should be kept in front of the building as the place has an architectural and aesthetic value.
The illegal structures on the slopes can damage the whole shape of the hill, jeopardising the very existence of the hill, she added.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Eahsan Manjur Elahi said they would take steps to remove the illegal structures if PWD serves notices to the occupiers while PWD Executive Engineer Abdul Momen said they have asked the deputy commissioner to remove the illegal structures.