HC issues injunction on constructing houses under Ashrayan Project at Netrokona playground

The High Court today (August 14, 2022) issued an injunction restraining the government from constructing houses under the Ashrayan Project at a historical playground in Netrokona's Kendua upazila for the next three months.

In response to a writ petition, the court also issued a rule asking the officials concerned to explain why the action of the deputy commissioner of Netrokona to change the class of the playground at Balaishimul mouza for constructing houses under the Ashrayan Project should not be declared illegal.

In the rule, the court asked them to show causes why they should not be ordered to protect and preserve the Balaishimul playground. 

At the same time, the HC ordered the DC of Netrokona to prepare a report on this issue and submit it before this court in 60 days.

The HC bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo issued the order and rule following a writ petition filed by Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela) Netrokona in this regard.

During the hearing, Deputy Attorney General Arobinda Kumar Roy vehemently opposed the writ petition saying that among the proposed 36 houses, only 12 will be constructed in the field.

The court then said changing the class of the field while a case is pending with a lower court on this issue is abuse of power.

Bela chief Syeda Rizwana Hasan told The Daily Star that the district administration of Netrokona has illegally and arbitrarily initiated to construct houses under the Ashrayan Project by changing the class of 0.46 acres of land of the playground out of total 1.80 acres, despite the locals repeatedly asking them not to.