Staff Reporter :
The High Court on Thursday declared illegal an agreement that leased 7.10 acres of land of ‘Notified Forest’ under Uttar Slimpur Mouza of Sitakunda upazila in Chattogram district in favour of BBC Steel for establishing a ship breaking yard.
The High Court bench of Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Khandaker Diliruzzaman delivered the verdict after hearing a rule issued in this regard.
The court, however, observed that any notified forest area, no matter whether it is declared
reserved forest or not, cannot be allocated or leased for whatsoever is the purpose that damages the country’s forest.
Advocate Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Minhajul Haque Chowdhury and Advocate Sayeed Ahmed Kabir appeared in the court on behalf of the writ petition while Barrister Mehedi Hasan Chowdhury represented the BBC steel.
Tthe Chattogram district administration on March 21, 2019, leased 7.10 acres of land of ‘Notified Forest’ under Uttar Slimpur Mouza of Sitakunda upazila in Chattogram district in favor of BBC Steel for establishing a ship breaking yard.
After getting the lease, the company cut some trees there and built road in order to establish the ship-breaking yard.
The Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) on April 28 this year filed a writ petition with the High Court (HC) challenging legality of the lease agreement.
After primary hearing, the High Court bench of Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Md Ashraful Kamal on May 13, 2019, issued a rule.
After holding hearing on the rule, the court on Thursday delivered the verdict.
The High Court on Thursday declared illegal an agreement that leased 7.10 acres of land of ‘Notified Forest’ under Uttar Slimpur Mouza of Sitakunda upazila in Chattogram district in favour of BBC Steel for establishing a ship breaking yard.
The High Court bench of Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Khandaker Diliruzzaman delivered the verdict after hearing a rule issued in this regard.
The court, however, observed that any notified forest area, no matter whether it is declared
reserved forest or not, cannot be allocated or leased for whatsoever is the purpose that damages the country’s forest.
Advocate Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Minhajul Haque Chowdhury and Advocate Sayeed Ahmed Kabir appeared in the court on behalf of the writ petition while Barrister Mehedi Hasan Chowdhury represented the BBC steel.
Tthe Chattogram district administration on March 21, 2019, leased 7.10 acres of land of ‘Notified Forest’ under Uttar Slimpur Mouza of Sitakunda upazila in Chattogram district in favor of BBC Steel for establishing a ship breaking yard.
After getting the lease, the company cut some trees there and built road in order to establish the ship-breaking yard.
The Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) on April 28 this year filed a writ petition with the High Court (HC) challenging legality of the lease agreement.
After primary hearing, the High Court bench of Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Md Ashraful Kamal on May 13, 2019, issued a rule.
After holding hearing on the rule, the court on Thursday delivered the verdict.
