The foundation laying ceremony of the Judicial Magistrate Court building in the compound of St Peter’s Church in Barisal city was held yesterday amid protest by local Christians as a historical pond has been filled up for this purpose.
Law, Justice and Parliament Affairs Minister Anisul Huq laid the foundation for the 10-storey building yesterday afternoon.
The infrastructure of the judiciary will be strengthened by repairing and constructing court building around the country, the minister said while addressing the ceremony.
The project, titled Judicial Magistrate Court Building Construction Project, will cost around Tk27 crore, and it could be extended to 12 storeys which would cost an additional Tk4 crore, said Zakir Hossain, executive engineer at the Barisal office of the Public Works Department (PWD). Meanwhile, local Christians hoisted black flags at the roof of the church to protest the construction of the new court building by filling up the pond, which was recorded as the church’s property.
Earlier, the protesters staged hunger strike for half a day, held a rally and then handed a memorandum regarding their protest over to the district administration on Sunday, said Shanti Mandal, representative of the Church of Bangladesh in Barisal.
