High Court orders a list of illegal structures set up in car parking areas in Dhaka

The High Court has demanded a list of unauthorised shops and other structures thrown up in car parking areas, along the streets in Dhaka, in violation of building design.

It has ordered the chairman of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) to submit the list within 60 days.

The bench of Justice Zinat Ara and Justice AKM Shahidul Huq issued the order, including the rule, on Tuesday after preliminary hearing of a writ petition.

In the rule, the court demanded an explanation why a directive would not be issued to remove all those unauthorised structures.

The public works secretary, mayors of Dhaka North City Corporation and Dhaka South City Corporation, RAJUK chairman and Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner have been told to respond to the rule within four weeks.

Two lawyers for the Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh filed the petition in public interest to reduce traffic congestion in Dhaka on Monday.

Advocate Manzill Murshid argued for the petitioners, while Assistant Attorney General Titas Hillol Rema represented the State at the hearing.

Murshid told the court Dhaka’s traffic congestion problem has assumed alarming proportions.

He pointed out building owners had set up shops and other business establishments in areas designated for car parking in violation of RAJUK’s construction plan while vehicles were parked along the roads. 

He also told the court though RAJUK had prepared a list of 208 such unauthorised structures, no action has been visible.