The Supreme Court yesterday dismissed five review petitions paving way for removing private jetties from the Shitalakkya River.
City Sugar Industries Ltd, Heidelberg Cement Bangladesh Ltd, Kamal Vegetable Oil Ltd, Molla Salt Industries Ltd and CEMEX Cement Bangladesh Ltd filed petitions seeking review of an Appellate Division ruling that had directed the companies to remove the jetties.
A five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain rejected the petitions.
Following a writ petition made by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh, the High Court in 2009 ordered the protection of four rivers – Shitalakkhya, Balu, Turag and Buriganga - surrounding Dhaka. The court also directed removal of all illegal structures.
After the verdict, Narayanganj administration in February 2010 served notices to the five companies to remove the jetties. The commercial institutions filed petitions with the High Court challenging the notices, but these were rejected on March 21, 2010. Later, their appeals against the High Court order were dismissed on May 3, 2010.
The five companies lodged pleas asking the top court to review its judgement. With yesterday’s order, the court cleared the way to remove the jetties from the Shitalakkhya River, HRPB president Manzill Murshid told the Dhaka Tribune.
