SC Stays HC Verdict on Hatirjheel-Begunbari Project

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court today stayed the High Court judgment that stated the Hatirjheel-Begunbari project as a public trust declaring all the commercial infrastructures in Hatirjheel area illegal.

An Appellate Division (AD) bench of five justices led by Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique passed the order today.

The Appellate Division for the time being, stayed the four-point directions and nine-point recommendations made at the High Court judgment.

"The court today issued a status quo on the High Court's verdict after the hearing...Evacuation of commercial establishments in the area is not taking place for now," Lawyer Imam Hasan told BSS in this regard.

The High Court on May 24 in 2022, released the full text of its judgment passed on June 30 in 2021. 

Declaring the Hatirjheel-Begunbari project as 'public trust' (public property), the High Court said the water and aesthetic beauty of Hatirjheel are invaluable resources and none should be allowed to spoil those.

The High Court also gave four-point directions and nine-point recommendations for conservation and development of Hatirjheel water, its aesthetic beauty and such property.

On September 9 in 2018, Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) filed a writ in the High Court as the media published news about RAJUK's inaction in stopping the operation of business outside the layout planning guidelines.

The High Court issued a ruling on the hearing of that writ on September 10 in 2018. Then on June 30 in 2021, the ruling was declared as absolute.