HC asks govt to demolish illegal structures on Mayur river in 2 months

The government has been ordered by the High Court (HC) to remove all illegal structures built on encroached land of Mayur river in Khulna within the next two months.

Authorities concerned of the government were asked to start the process after conducting a survey.

The responsible authorities have been further ordered to submit a report after complying with the HC directive by April 6.

The bench of Justice Gobinda Chandra Tagore and Justice Mohammad Ullah came up with the order while hearing a writ petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) in 2016 seeking necessary orders on the authorities to save Mayur river from encroachment.

As per the HC’s earlier order, structures established by Khulna City Corporation (KCC) on encroached land of the river were demolished, HRPB's lawyer Advocate Manzill Murshid told The Daily Star.

However, another video submitted to the HC by KCC found the presence of more illegal structures built by others on encroached land of the same river. The HC today ordered relevant authorities including the Department of Environment, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority and deputy commissioner in Khulna to demolish and remove these structures after a survey, the HRPB lawyer said.

Advocate MA Gaffar appeared for KCC while Deputy Attorney General Abu Yayia Dulal represented the government.