A Correspondent :
The High Court on Thursday directed the authorities concerned of the government to take steps to protect a century-old waqf pond named Munshi Pukur measuring around four acres in Chittagong’s Chawkbazar through demolishing structures constructed in it.
The court also ordered the deputy commissioner of Chittagong to submit a report before it in 15 days after complying with the directive.
The bench of Justice Md Rezaul Hasan and Justice Kashefa Hussain came up with the verdict following a writ petition filed by the Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh in 2012 seeking its order on the authorities concerned to protect the pond.
Petitioner’s lawyer Manzill Murshid told The Daily Star that some local influential people have been constructing structures in the pond through earth filling in violation of relevant laws and provision of the constitution.
Mayor of Chittagong City Corporation, chairman of Chittagong Development Authority, its DC and police commissioner, councillor of ward no-16 of CCC, and officer-in-charge of Panchlaish Police Station have been made respondents to the directives, he added.
