The Chamber Court of the Appellate Division on Tuesday upheld the High Court’s directive halting construction of the Elevated Expressway in Dhaka’s Panthakunja Park and Hatirjheel reservoir areas.
Justice Md Rezaul Haque, Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division, passed the order following a government petition seeking a stay on the High Court’s earlier ruling. Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua appeared on behalf of the petitioners.
While the Chamber Court did not suspend the High Court’s order, it scheduled a fresh hearing for next week. As a result, the construction ban remains in effect for now, lawyers confirmed.
On September 10, a High Court bench comprising Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Mia and Justice Biswajit Debnath ordered an immediate halt to construction activities in Panthakunja Park near Sonargaon and the Hatirjheel section. The court also directed that Panthakunja Park be reopened to the public.
The ruling came in response to a writ petition filed by nine individuals, including environmental activist Amirul Rajiv, Professor Anu Muhammad, and Professor Gitiara Nasreen. The petition, supported by various media reports, challenged the legality of the expressway’s expansion through public green spaces.
Following the hearing, the High Court issued a rule asking authorities to explain why the construction of the FDC-to-Palashi extension of the Elevated Expressway should not be declared illegal and relocated to a more suitable area.