The court extends the deadline for surveying the river’s southern and eastern banks and submitting a report identifying illegal occupants.
Tin-shed houses have been built on the banks of the Karnaphuli River. Photo: Md Minhaz Uddin/TBS
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Tin-shed houses have been built on the banks of the Karnaphuli River. Photo: Md Minhaz Uddin/TBS
The High Court has given the authorities two more weeks to survey the southern and eastern banks of the Karnaphuli River and submit a list of illegal encroachers along with a report.
A bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Aziz Ahmed passed the order today (8 November) following a fresh application filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB).
On 14 November 2023, the same bench, following a hearing on a public interest litigation, directed the relevant authorities to survey the river’s southern and eastern banks and submit a list of illegal encroachers along with a report within three months.
The court also directed the authorities to take necessary measures to protect the river based on the survey findings.
However, as the authorities failed to submit the report within the stipulated time, HRPB filed a fresh application seeking further action.
During today’s hearing, senior lawyer Manzil Morshed, appearing for HRPB, told the court that despite the 2023 order, the authorities had yet to submit the survey report.
He also said encroachment and pollution of the Karnaphuli River continued, adversely affecting residents of Chattogram.
Advocate Mohammad Sarwar Ahad Chowdhury filed the public interest litigation on behalf of HRPB.
The 19 respondents include the secretaries of the ministries of planning, shipping, environment and water resources, the mayor of Chattogram City Corporation and the chairman of Chattogram Port Authority.
Advocate Sanjay Mondal assisted Manzil Morshed during the hearing, while Deputy Attorney General Shihab Uddin Khan represented the state.
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