The Supreme Court has upheld a recent High Court order directing the authorities to remove illegally built structures from the banks of Karnaphuli river in Chittagong.
A four-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, passed the order after hearing an appeal filed by Karnafuly Ship Builders Ltd on Monday.
Advocate AM Amin Uddin and Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh pleaded for Karnafuly Ship Builders, while Advocate Manzil Murshid stood for Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB).
Earlier on Feb 6, the private company filed an appeal petition with the chamber judge's court of the Supreme Court against the High Court ruling. The court then stayed the High Court order and sent the petition to the Appellate Division for further hearing.
On Apr 9, a High Court bench ordered the chairman of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) to submit a report on the drives being conducted to remove the illegal structures.
The court fixed May 19 for the next hearing on the matter.
In 2010, HRPB filed a writ seeking the High Court's directive to remove illegal structures built on the banks of Karnaphuli.
In the petition, a number of individuals, owners of businesses, houses and slums; a container terminal, and six government entities were accused of constructing illegal structures along the riverbanks in Bakalia, Patenga, Madarbari, Ghosail Danga, Monoharkhali and Firingi Bazar areas.
On Aug 16, 2016, the High Court directed the authorities concerned to remove 2,112 illegal structures.