DSCC denies official entry to office defying High Court order

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) denied the project director of Mayor Mohammad Hanif Flyover access to his office for the third consecutive day yesterday, although the High Court stayed his transfer and release orders issued early this month.

Md Ashiqur Rahman, the project director, also superintendent engineer in charge of DSCC's traffic department, first went to his office on Sunday but found it locked, and the situation remained unchanged over next two days.

"I spent three consecutive office days at the chief engineer and additional chief engineer's rooms," he said yesterday.  

Ashiq was transferred to Gazipur City Corporation and released from his two official positions on June 8, reportedly for issuing a letter to the flyover's operator that the DSCC mayor should be allowed to use the flyover toll-free.

He had issued the letter on May 26 on the instructions of the mayor, Sayeed Khokon.

Ashiq later went to the court, which on June 18 stayed the transfer and instant release orders for six months.   

"It is the duty of the corporation's secretary and chief executive 

officer to carry out the court order," said Chief Engineer Habibur Rahman. "What can I do if they don't do so?"   

The corporation's secretary, Khan Rezaul Karim, said, "The office is occupied by the newly posted superintendent engineer.... We did not lock the office."

Asked, then who would make sure the HC order is complied with, Karim said the corporation's law officers were examining the lawyer's certificate as to the High Court's stay order. "We would act upon endorsement of the mayor and the chief executive officer," he said.    

Ashiq's counsel M Saquibuzzaman said, "An order of the High Court stands effective as soon as it is passed, and compliance of such an order is neither dependent on nor subject to any further scrutiny or endorsement by some other authorities."