The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has given eight weeks to resolve the High Court ruling over the deal between the government and the Jamuna Resorts Ltd (JRL) authorities.
The four-member SC bench led by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha on Monday passed the order, disposing of a "leave to appeal" by the Bangladesh Bridges Authority (BBA).
The court also asked to maintain the status quo.
During Monday's hearing, Barrister Rafique-Ul Huq represented the JRL authorities while Attorney General Mahbubey Alam stood for the state.
Earlier on June 30, the SC stayed until May 17 the cancellation of a deal between the government and the Jamuna Resorts Ltd (JRL) authorities.
A four-member bench 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.
BNP leader Abdul Awal Mintoo is the leaser and a partner of the JRL. He failed to take part in the recent Dhaka city polls.
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 them over to the Bridges Authority. The JRL then appealed against the cancellation order with the High Court.
