The Supreme Court yesterday stayed until May 17 the cancellation of a deal between the government and the Jamuna Resorts Ltd (JRL) authorities.
A four-member bench headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha issued the order on a notice issued by the Bangladesh Bridges Authority. It also instructed the state to file a plea with the Appellate Division.
On April 23, a High Court bench stayed the same notice for three months and asked the government not to bar the JRL authorities from operating their business.
The government appealed against the decision with the apex court chamber judge on April 26. The chamber judge stayed the High Court order and sent the petition to the regular bench of the Supreme Court for hearing.
During yesterday's hearing, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam stood for the state, while the Bridges Authority was represented by Abdun Nur Dulal. Barrister Rafique Ul Huq stood for the JRL.
BNP leader Abdul Awal Mintoo is the leaser and a partner of the JRL. Recently he failed to take part in the Dhaka city polls.
“The stay will remain in effect until May 17 and the state has been instructed to file a leave to appeal within that time. The matter will be heard on that day,” Rafique told reporters.
The JRL had sought lease of 1,200 acres of land for 30 years on the east side of Bangabandhu Bridge in Tangail from the Bridges Authority on November 21, 1999 to set up the resort.
The Bridges Authority on April 1 this year served a notice cancelling the agreement “for not clearing dues and not signing the certificate of satisfaction.”
The JRL moved Dhaka Judge’s Court against the decision. The court on April 2 stayed the notice after a primary hearing but turned it down on April 22 following a full hearing.
Soon after, the executive magistrate of Tangail seized all properties of the JRL and handed those over to the Bridges Authority. The JRL then appealed against the cancellation order with the High Court.