The construction of business establishments after grabbing footpaths at Gulistan in the capital continues unabated, violating the stay order of the High Court.
The High Court (HC) issued a three-month stay order on the construction of illegal structures after footpath grabbers filed a writ with the court following the move of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) against the encroachers.
The estate department of the city corporation came up with the observation based on a lawyer’s copy, but said an HC copy from this end is yet to reach the DSCC.
The city corporation on June 27 issued a notice asking the grabbers to remove 28 shops, illegally built a few months ago near the wall of Ramna Telephone Exchange building at Gulistan.
The notice also referred to an HC order on February 26, 2012 that asked the DSCC to take steps within 48 hours against any encroachment on the footpaths from the capital’s Zero point to Sadarghat.
A group of the ruling Awami League men have been allegedly raising the structures for business purposes that occupy the sidewalks.
According to the DSCC, the footpath grabbers filed the writ with the HC for stopping its move against the illegal construction.
The HC in its stay order asked both the parties to shy away from action before the next court order.
DSCC Chief Estate Officer, Jamal Hussain said if the footpath grabbers continue illegal construction, the city corporation would file a case against them.
However, an official of the city corporation on condition of anonymity laid the blame on Jamal, alleging that Jamal was reluctant to take steps against the illegal construction despite knowing everything.
It was found that the grabbers had already completed 80% of their construction work.
Executive Magistrate Ananda Kumar Biswas of the corporation admitted the occupation of the walkways.
He told the Dhaka Tribune, “We took action against the grabbers before. But after the stay order of the HC, we are not conducting eviction drive against the illegal structures.”
