Hatirjheel, Begunbari ‘Public Trust Property’: HC

Declaring Hatirjheel-Begunbari project in Dhaka as a "Public Trust Property", the High Court in a full text verdict has issued four directives and nine recommendations in order to protect its original character, beauty and water.

"Water of Hatirjheel and its aesthetic structures are an invaluable asset which cannot be damaged in any manner," the HC bench of Justice Md Ashraful Kamal and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil observed.

In the 55-page full text verdict, the court directed the government to evict all business structures within the project in 60 days.

On June 30 last year, the bench had delivered a short verdict to this issue following a  petition filed by lawyer Ripan Barai on behalf of Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh on September 9, 2018. The petition challenged the legality of the construction work there.

In the full text verdict, the HC declared allocation and construction of all the business structures illegal as those were constructed beyond the layout plan.

The HC judges have advised for formation of a "Hatirjheel Lake Protection, Development and Management Authority" directly under the PMO.

They recommended for appointing the engineering department of Buet and 24th Engineering Construction Brigade of army as permanent consultant, among others.

During the hearing, petitioner's counsel Manzill Murshid told the HC that some structures including restaurants are obstructing people's free movement in the area and have damaged its beauty.

                  Lawyer Imam Hossain appeared for Rajuk.