The High Court has given a 48-hour deadline for construction work to stop on a 17-storey shopping mall occupying a canal beside the Agargaon-Shymoli link road in Dhaka, citing environmental concerns.
In it's ruling on Wednesday, the court questioned whether inaction by authorities led to the mall's construction in direct violation of some serious environmental regulations regarding water bodies.
Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh filed the petition, attaching a news report on the issue, said lawyer Manzil Murshid on behalf of the organisation.
Among those asked to respond to the ruling within four weeks are the environment secretary, the director general of the Environment Department, the managing director of Dhaka Wasa, the chief engineer of Public Works Department, Dhaka deputy commissioner, and Mamata Cooperative Society.
The court also asked Mamata Cooperative Society to come up with an explanation why it should not bear all the expenses to clean up the mess at the construction site, restoring the canal to its previous state.
Thursday, June 04, 2026
