SC clears way to demolish cold storage on Karnaphuli river

The Supreme Court (SC) today cleared the way for Chattogram district administration to demolish partially a cold storage which was constructed illegally on land of the Karnaphuli river.

The Appellate Division of the SC came up with the order dismissing a petition filed by Karnaphuli Ship Builders Ltd, owner of the warehouse, seeking stay on demolition of the structure.

A four-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order after hearing arguments on the petition.

Petitioner’s lawyer advocate Manizil Murshid told The Daily Star there is no legal bar for the administration to demolish Karnaphuli cold storage building partially following the SC order.

Advocate Murshid moved the writ petition before the High Court in 2016 for directives to demolish illegal structures constructed on the land of the river in Chattogram.

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He said following the petition filed by the Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) the HC on August 16, 2016 directed the authorities concerned to remove 2,181 structures illegally built on the banks of the river in the port city area.

In response to the HC directive, the Chattogram district administration on February 4 started a drive against illegal structures built along the river boundary.

Karnaphuli Ship Builders Ltd on April 6 this year moved a petition before the SC’s chamber judge for staying the demolition drive against its Karnaphuli cold storage building.

After holding hearing the apex court’s full bench dismissed the petition today.

Following another petition filed by the HRPB, the HC on April 9 directed the chairman of Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) to immediately take necessary steps for eviction of illegal structures along the river in Chattogram.