The Supreme Court has granted Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) one more year to demolish its complex located in Dhaka’s Hatirjheel area.
A four-member Appellate Division bench, led by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, passed the order on Monday, after BGMEA submitted a fresh undertaking mentioning that it would not seek more time to tear down the building.
Advocate Imtiaj Moinul Islam, who stood for BGMEA, said the trade body will get time until April 12, 2019 for completing the demolition project.
The 15-storey BGMEA Bhaban stands on a critical spot in Dhaka, blocking the flow of water between Hatirjheel lake and Begunbari canal, and has been described by the Supreme Court as “a cancer in the Hatirjheel project.”
Earlier, the association sought a year’s extension to the latest deadline to demolish the building.
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Following the plea, the court ordered the association to submit an undertaking with a condition that the BGMEA will not seek another extension after the one currently applied for expires.
Later, on March 28, the Appellate Division highlighted the errors in the undertaking and asked the BGMEA to revise and resubmit it on April 2.
The High Court first ordered the BGMEA to move forward with demolition work on April 3, 2011. The association filed a leave to appeal against the verdict which was later dismissed by the top court.
In June 2016, the Appellate Division upheld the High Court verdict ordering the demolition of the structure and told the BGMEA to bear the cost of demolition.
On March 5, 2017, the Appellate Division rejected the review petition for the verdict for the demolition project.
Last year, the BGMEA had appealed for a period of three years. However, it was given seven months’ time to demolish the building.
Monday, March 17, 2025
