High Court orders halt to dismantling Lalbagh Fort wall to set up parking lot

The High Court has ordered a halt within 24 hours to the setting up of a parking lot by tearing down a part of the boundary wall of Lalbagh Kella (fort).

The bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Abu Taher Md. Saifur Rahman issued the order following a writ petition filed by a rights organisation on Sunday.

Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) filed the petition based on media reports.

Department of Archaeology (DoA) director general, deputy director for Dhaka division, the fort’s curator and Lalbagh Police Station OC were ordered to submit a report on action taken in accordance with a previous order within July 5.

They were asked why an order to preserve the 17th century Mughal fort should not be issued.

The court also asked why an order to restore the torn down part of the wall should not be issued.

Cultural affairs secretary and the joint secretary for archaeology were also made respondents to the rules.

Lawyer Manzill Murshid stood for the HRPB in the hearing.

“There is no scope (to tear down the wall of the fort) according to law, so it is illegal,” he said.

The petition was filed seeking an order to ensure that the fort’s ambiance is not compromised.