Stop earth filling for resort, economic zone in Sonargaon: SC

The Supreme Court today directed the authorities concerned to refrain from earth filling in agricultural land, water bodies and parts of Meghna River at different areas of Sonargaon upazila in Narayanganj in the names of Sonargaon Resort City and Sonargaon Economic Zone.

The areas are -- Pirojpur, Jainpur, Chhoyhissa, Charvobonathpur, Batibandha in Pirojpur union and Ratanpur moujas under Sonargaon upazila. 

The apex court also ordered the deputy commissioner of Narayanganj to comply with the HC’s directive in 2014 and to submit a compliance report to this court by October 8.

On March 2, 2014, following a writ petition filed by Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers’ Association (Bela), the HC had directed a housing company -- Unique Property Development Ltd -- to stop filling up land to establish the housing project and remove soil that had already been dumped at the areas.

Today, a four-member bench of the Appellate Division of the SC headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order after hearing a petition seeking necessary order on the authorities concerned to stop earth filling in agricultural land, water bodies and parts of Meghna River in the name of Sonargaon Resort City and Sonargaon Economic Zone owned by a Mohammad Noor Ali

A Bela press release today said following a writ petition filed by it, the HC on March 2, 2014 issued a rule asking the authorities concerned of the government and Unique Properties Development Ltd owned by Mohammad Noor Ali to explain why earth filling for the projects of Sonargaon Resort City and Sonargaon Economic Zone should not be declared illegal.

The same day, the HC had also directed the company to stop filling up land for the housing project and remove the soil that had already been dumped.

Following a petition filed by Unique Properties Development Ltd, the HC on October 25 modified its March 2, 2014 order and allowed the housing company to establish a housing project, Sonargaon Resort City, and to construct Unique Hotel and Resort in Sonargaon.

On November 3, 2016, the Appellate Division stayed the HC order of October 25, upheld its (HC) March 2, 2014 order and asked the HC to hear and dispose of its March 2, 2014 rule.

Bela filed a contempt of court petition with the HC on January 16, 2017 as Unique Property Development Ltd started earth filling in the areas for establishing an Economic Zone in violation of the HC directives.

During hearing of the contempt of court petition, the deputy commissioner of Narayanj appeared before the HC and promised that he will take steps to stop the earth filling in Sonargaon area, the Bela press release said.

Although, the original writ petition on which the rule and directive were issued on March 2, 2014 is now still pending with the HC, Unique Property Development Ltd and its associate organisations started earth filling in the agricultural land and water bodies by dredgers on July 16 this year.

On July 31 this year, Bela filed a petition with the HC seeking necessary order to stop the earth filling.

The HC kept the petition in the record without passing any order. Bela recently filed the petition with the SC for necessary order. 

After the hearing the petition, the SC today issued the directive to refrain from earth filling in the areas of Sonargaon.

Barrister Fida M Kamal, Advocate AM Aminudddin, Advocate Syeda Rizwana Hasan and Advocate Sayeed Ahmed Kabir appeared for Bela.