Room Erection by SCBA
HC directs PWD to stop construction
The High Court (HC) yesterday issued a suomoto order directing the Public Works Department (PWD) to immediately stop constructing structures on the roof of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) office building.
An HC bench of Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik and Justice Sheikh Md Zakir Hossain came up with the order following a report published in The Daily Star headlined -- SCBA erecting rooms on old building 'illegally'.
Dr Belal Hossain Joy, a Supreme Court lawyer, placed the report, seeking an HC directive to stop the construction on the over 50-year old building.
The court observed that construction of tin-shed rooms on the roof of SCBA building was going on without any planning and permission from PWD. If the rooms are constructed, the building would become vulnerable to the life of the lawyers, it said.
According to The Daily Star report, SCBA is erecting the rooms defying objections from PWD.
On February 7, PWD lodged a general diary (GD) with Shahbagh Police Station, saying it is too risky to build the structures.
In the GD, PWD argues that the three-storied building would become vulnerable, be at risk of collapse and unable to stand an earthquake.
Meanwhile, SCBA Secretary Bodruddoza Badal, in a statement, expressed surprise with the report.
He said the previous proAwami League (AL) SCBA executive committee constructed and rented out about 100 shops on the building's roof to their favourites.
At that time nobody objected. But now the new committee, dominated by BNP, constructing some cubicles for lawyers facing acute sitting problems, is being questioned, he said.
“A pro-Awami League quarter is trying to stop the construction out of jealousy as they think that this act will increase the popularity of the present executive committee,” the statement said.
He also stated that the need for the construction is purely for the benefit of SCBA lawyers and not for commercial purpose.
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