The High Court today imposed a ban on the running of all water taxi services at Gulshan-Badda Lake [beyond Police Plaza Concord Point leading to Gulshan-Badda Link Road Point] in the capital.

In response to a writ petition, the court ordered the respondents to construct a permanent pucca embankment along Gulshan-Badda Lake adjoining roads Nos 136 to 143 of Gulshan-1 and repair the walkways along the same lakeside.

It asked the respondents to be retrained from running or operating all water taxi services beyond Police Plaza Concord Point leading to Gulshan-Badda Lake till completion of the construction of pucca embankment and repair of the walkways.

The HC also issued a rule asking the respondents to explain in four weeks why running water taxis beyond Police Plaza Concord Point leading to Gulshan-Badda Link Road without constructing pucca embankment and repairing the adjoining the walkways should not be declared illegal.

Chairman of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority, inspector general of police, commissioner of Dhaka metropolitan police and water taxi operator Karim Group have been made respondents to the rule.    

The HC bench of Justice Tariq ul Hakim and Justice Md Shohrowardi came up with the order and rule after hearing a writ filed by Barrister Sarwat Siraj, secretary general of Gulshan Soceity, seeking necessary orders to protect the Gulshan-Badda Lake from its erosion and damage due to running water taxis.

Barrister Sarwat Siraj moved the petition while Deputy Attorney General Amatul Karim represented the government.