Stop Ashiyan City Housing Project plot selling: HC

The order comes following a writ petition filed against the company.

The High Court on Wednesday ordered Ashiyan City Housing Project to stop all their business activity, including plot selling, advertisng and earth-filling.

The bench of Justice Mirza Hussain Haider and Justice Muhammad Khurshid Alam issued the interim ban on the company following a writ petition.

Several groups like Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), Association for Land Reform and Development, Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), Institute of Architects, Bangladesh (IAB), Nijera Kori,and 'Paribesh Bachao Andolan' (save the environment movement) had moved the High Court on Dec 22, seeking a ban on projects of this company. .

Lawyer of the petitioner Iqbal Kabir Liton told bdnews24.com," The ban even includes indirect advertising such as those under corporate social responsibilty."

The court also suspended the company's "location approval" given by the Department of Environment (DoE) and the project renewal clearence given by Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) approval.

It has asked to show cause why the DOE's location approval, its renewal and Rajuk's approval should not be declared illegal.

Its order automatically effects a stay on the previous Environment ministry order revoking the DOE's fine to Ashiyan City for polluting the environment.

The ministry had reduced the fine from Tk 5 million to TK 500,000 on Feb 14.