Bangladesh News

The High Court has directed the government to take effective steps to stop earth filling and sale of plots in unauthorised private housing projects, and advertisements on those.

The court also directed the government to show cause as to why its failure to stop the illegal activities of private housing companies shall not be declared to be against public interest.

An HC bench comprised of Justice Wahab Miah and Justice Kazi Rezaul Hoque issued a rule with the directives following a writ petition filed by five environmental and urban planner groups on Tuesday.

The petitioners include Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association, Ain O Salish Kendro, Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon, Institute of Architects Bangladesh and Poribesh Bachao Andolon.

The petitioners mentioned failure of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, and Rajuk to prevent advertisements, earth filling and sale of plots in unapproved private housing projects.

These include proposed projects or those being implemented in the area covered by the Dhaka Metropolitan Development Plan comprised of the Structure Plan, Urban Area Plan and Detailed Area Plan (DAP).

The petition listed 56 unauthorised projects and 418 mouzas where earth filling has to be stopped.

Despite legal prohibitions, private housing companies are regularly putting up advertisements in various media to lure people to buy their plots.

Earlier, the petitioners had served legal notices with their copies to the presidents of Newspaper Owners Association of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Sangbadpatra Parishad and TV Owners Association.

Respondents to the writ petition include Rajuk, secretaries to the ministries of land, environment and forest, and information, director general of the Department of Environment, presidents of Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh and Bangladesh Land Developers Association.

Barrister Fida M Kamal, Iqbal Kabor and Razik-Al-Jalil appeared for the petitioners. The deputy attorney general represented the government.