Kazi Zahidul Hasan :
Rajdhani Unnayan Kartipaksha (Rajuk) has failed to take any legal action against the owners of the high-rise buildings constructed around Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA), violating the country’s aviation rules, sources said.
These structures and high-rise buildings also violated the Rajuk-approved plan, posing serious threat to flight operation at the airport.
Earlier, a joint survey conducted by the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), the Survey of Bangladesh, Rajuk, REHAB and the Air Force identified over 300 structures erected around the HSIA and Tejgaon Airport violating the rules and regulations of the CAAB.
Out of the total, dozens of high-rise buildings were constructed near the HSIA by the real estate companies, semi-government organisations and also RAJUK ignoring the aviation rules.
Following the survey, the CAAB requested the Rajuk authorities to take necessary steps in demolishing the illegal portions of the buildings.
A senior CAAB official told The New Nation on Friday that Rajuk had issued notices to the owners of the buildings in 2007, asking them to demolish the upper portion of the high-rise buildings. “Seven years have already elapsed, but no progress was made in this regard,” he added.
He said that CAAB by this time sat with the Rajuk authorities several times over the issue. Such meetings also failed to yield any positive outcome.
Expressing dissatisfaction at the Rajuk role, he further said that these structures were built by flouting aviation rules are posing serious threat to take-off and landings of planes at the airport.
The official further said, every building in the city should be built on receipt of clearance from the CAAB. Rajuk should not approve any construction plan without its clearance. But reality is that Rajuk officials approved the plans of those high-rise buildings without CAAB’s clearance.
As many of the high-rise building owners do not comply with the aviation rules, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) also raised concern about the matter urging the CAAB to demolish all those buildings constructed around the HSIA.
If these buildings are not demolished, accidents could happen at any time, it added.
“We have tried to take action about the disputed buildings, but could not do so due to the High Court’s stay order,” said a Rajuk official, adding, “When we decide to move against an illegal building and serve the owner a notice, the owner files a writ petition with the High Court and secure a stay order”.
Sources said that the Rajuk authority in a survey, conducted during 2008-2010, identified 5,000 buildings which were constructed violating National Building Code (BNBC).
The owners of these buildings have also received notices to demolish the illegal portions. The building owners did not comply with Rajuk order and Rajuk remained silent as usual, they added.
Rajdhani Unnayan Kartipaksha (Rajuk) has failed to take any legal action against the owners of the high-rise buildings constructed around Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA), violating the country’s aviation rules, sources said.
These structures and high-rise buildings also violated the Rajuk-approved plan, posing serious threat to flight operation at the airport.
Earlier, a joint survey conducted by the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), the Survey of Bangladesh, Rajuk, REHAB and the Air Force identified over 300 structures erected around the HSIA and Tejgaon Airport violating the rules and regulations of the CAAB.
Out of the total, dozens of high-rise buildings were constructed near the HSIA by the real estate companies, semi-government organisations and also RAJUK ignoring the aviation rules.
Following the survey, the CAAB requested the Rajuk authorities to take necessary steps in demolishing the illegal portions of the buildings.
A senior CAAB official told The New Nation on Friday that Rajuk had issued notices to the owners of the buildings in 2007, asking them to demolish the upper portion of the high-rise buildings. “Seven years have already elapsed, but no progress was made in this regard,” he added.
He said that CAAB by this time sat with the Rajuk authorities several times over the issue. Such meetings also failed to yield any positive outcome.
Expressing dissatisfaction at the Rajuk role, he further said that these structures were built by flouting aviation rules are posing serious threat to take-off and landings of planes at the airport.
The official further said, every building in the city should be built on receipt of clearance from the CAAB. Rajuk should not approve any construction plan without its clearance. But reality is that Rajuk officials approved the plans of those high-rise buildings without CAAB’s clearance.
As many of the high-rise building owners do not comply with the aviation rules, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) also raised concern about the matter urging the CAAB to demolish all those buildings constructed around the HSIA.
If these buildings are not demolished, accidents could happen at any time, it added.
“We have tried to take action about the disputed buildings, but could not do so due to the High Court’s stay order,” said a Rajuk official, adding, “When we decide to move against an illegal building and serve the owner a notice, the owner files a writ petition with the High Court and secure a stay order”.
Sources said that the Rajuk authority in a survey, conducted during 2008-2010, identified 5,000 buildings which were constructed violating National Building Code (BNBC).
The owners of these buildings have also received notices to demolish the illegal portions. The building owners did not comply with Rajuk order and Rajuk remained silent as usual, they added.
