The High Court yesterday ordered police to take appropriate legal action against those responsible for earth-filling to construct jetties on the Meghna River at Ashuganj.
The HC also directed the authorities concerned to remove the construction materials stored at the site within seven days and take measures to prevent anyone from encroaching the river. The court gave the government four weeks to submit a compliance report before it.
It also sought an explanation from the government within two weeks as to why the construction of jetties by encroaching the river should not be declared illegal.
The bench of Justice Salma Masud Chowdhury and Justice Md Habibul Gani issued the ruling yesterday after hearing a writ petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh.
Ten people, including the secretary to the shipping ministry, chairman of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority, Brahmanbaria district commissioner, superintendent of police and officer in charge of Ashuganj police station, were made respondents in the petition.
Supreme Court lawyer Manzill Murshid appeared for the petitioner, while Deputy Attorney General Mokleshur Rahman represented the government.
Manzill, who is also on the board of the rights organisation, claimed that local leaders from both the Awami League and BNP have been occupying the land along Meghna and trying to construct jetties.
The “joint venture” of the two rival parties has made the administration inactive regarding the encroachment, he alleged.
He also cited a ruling of the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division that declared the construction of jetties by encroachment of a water body as illegal.
