BANGLADESH

Though the Appellate Division has ordered to hand over the entire 7.09-acre land, the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) wants to give the Supreme Court only 0.67-acre of it.

After receiving an RHD letter to this effect, undersigned by supervising engineer Mohammad Faridul Alam, Supreme Court registrar A K M Shamsul Islam on Monday termed the move as contempt of court.

Legal notices had been sent to Sharak Bhaban and Shishu Academy by advocate Manzill Murshid asking them to hand over the occupied estates and establishments to the registrar within 15 days in line with a Supreme Court decision.

The legal notices, quoting a decision of the High Court on March 10, stated the two properties in question, on which Governor House and East Pakistan Court had been established, belong to the Supreme Court.

After the High Court order, both Shishu Academy and RHD approached the Appellate Division, but the pleas were dismissed.

The notice also said proper action would be taken for contempt of court if the property was not handed over to the Supreme Court within 15 days.

Shishu Academy has 2.37 acres of land in its possession.

Within a week of appointment, communications minister Obaidul Quader met the chief justice and sought time.

Murshid on Monday said, "The entire land is of the Supreme Court. To hand over only a part is misinterpretation of the verdict.

"We'll file a contempt of court suit in this regard."

Shamsul said, "They sent me a letter to hand over 0.67 acre land, let alone executing the court order."

"There was a caretaker building, Ansar building, pump house and two store rooms on the land. They took away the doors and windows of the building today (Monday)."

"None has the right to damage the properties to be handed over to the Supreme Court," he added.