Staff Reporter :
The High Court (HC) on Thursday directed the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Gazipur to probe whether there is any illegal structure and encroachment on the Turag River’s bank and the river-bed near the Kamarpara bridge.
The court also asked the Magistrate to submit a probe report to the court in this regard by March 1.
The HC directed the Chairman of BIWTA,
Deputy Commissioner and Police Superintendent of Gazipur and Officers-in-Charge of Tongi and Turag Police Stations to help the Magistrate in the investigation.
The High Court bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Mohammad Ullah passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed by ‘Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB)’.
In compliance with an HC order, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) submitted a report in the High Court yesterday saying that structures constructed by nine organizations in the river had already been removed.
But HRPB lawyer Manzill Murshid told the High Court that he had strong evidence with him of having more illegal structures in the river. Land grabbing continues, he said. So we are seeking reinvestigation.
After hearing him, the HC directed for a judicial probe.
Earlier on November 9 last year, the High Court directed the government to stop earth filling, encroachment and construction of the structures on the bank of the Turag River within 48 hours and to submit a report in the HC after complying with the order by November 27.
The court had also ordered Deputy Commissioner of Gazipur to submit a list with names and addresses of the people who were involved with earth filling, encroachment and construction of the structures on the river’s bank and the river bed by November 27.
The court also issued a rule upon the administration to explain as to why their inaction to stop such activities should not be declared illegal.
HRPB submitted the petition three days after a report under caption “Time to declare Turag dead” was published in a leading daily on November 6.
The High Court (HC) on Thursday directed the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Gazipur to probe whether there is any illegal structure and encroachment on the Turag River’s bank and the river-bed near the Kamarpara bridge.
The court also asked the Magistrate to submit a probe report to the court in this regard by March 1.
The HC directed the Chairman of BIWTA,
Deputy Commissioner and Police Superintendent of Gazipur and Officers-in-Charge of Tongi and Turag Police Stations to help the Magistrate in the investigation.
The High Court bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Mohammad Ullah passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed by ‘Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB)’.
In compliance with an HC order, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) submitted a report in the High Court yesterday saying that structures constructed by nine organizations in the river had already been removed.
But HRPB lawyer Manzill Murshid told the High Court that he had strong evidence with him of having more illegal structures in the river. Land grabbing continues, he said. So we are seeking reinvestigation.
After hearing him, the HC directed for a judicial probe.
Earlier on November 9 last year, the High Court directed the government to stop earth filling, encroachment and construction of the structures on the bank of the Turag River within 48 hours and to submit a report in the HC after complying with the order by November 27.
The court had also ordered Deputy Commissioner of Gazipur to submit a list with names and addresses of the people who were involved with earth filling, encroachment and construction of the structures on the river’s bank and the river bed by November 27.
The court also issued a rule upon the administration to explain as to why their inaction to stop such activities should not be declared illegal.
HRPB submitted the petition three days after a report under caption “Time to declare Turag dead” was published in a leading daily on November 6.
