The High Court has declared illegal the construction of tourist and picnic spots in a land on the bank of Mahananda river in Chapainawabganj.
Following an application filed by a local resident, the HC bench of Justice Md Ashraful Kamal and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil came up with the verdict on Sunday.
The court also asked the public administration secretary to conduct an investigation (due to use the PM's name to allow the project) and take necessary steps against Deputy Commissioner of Chapainawabganj AZM Nurul Haque for allowing the change of nature of the land to establish the project, though the High Court had directives against grabbing river land.
However the court said the tourism corporation can establish the tourism and picnic spot by acquiring the government land near Mahananda River.
A local resident submitted the application with the High Court challenging legality of the Deputy Commissioner's (DC) decision to establish the tourism spot on the bank of Mahananda River.
The DC decided to build a tourism centre on a 61- acre of land close to Sheikh Hasina Bridge in the river.
Advocate Manzil Murshid represented the Human Rights and peace for Bangladesh (HRPB), a right organization which had secured a verdict to protect rivers on January 30, 2019.
Manzil Murshid told Dhaka Tribune that DC AZM Nurul Haque allowed the project by Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation in 2014 in violation of the Water Body Protection Act 2000.
“The DC had submitted a report to the court saying that he permitted the project as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced establishing the tourism spot in Chapainawabganj,” he added.
We have submitted documents that the prime minister did not say that the tourism spot will be established in the bank of the river, he said.