The Supreme Court has cleared the way to remove all structures, except those set up by the government, from the banks of four rivers–Shitalakkhya, Balu, Turag and Buriganga – surrounding Dhaka.
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has passed the order on Monday after rejecting five review petitions.
Five companies – City Sugar Industries Ltd, Heidelberg Cement Bangladesh Ltd, Kamal Vegetable Oil Ltd, Molla Salt Industries Ltd and Cimex Cement BD limited – have filed review petitions against the apex court verdict that upheld the HC verdict.
In June 2009, the HC had delivered a land mark verdict directing the government to remove all structure from the four rivers excluding those set up by the government for public interest.
The verdict came following a writ petition filed by Manzil Murshid on behalf of the Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh.
Later, a total of seven commercial companies had filed separate appeals with SC against the HC verdict so that their jetties were not removed from Shitalakkhya.
On May 3, 2010, the SC rejected the appeals and upheld the HC verdict.
Later in 2010, five companies submitted the review petitions against the apex court verdict.
