BANGLADESH

The High Court has directed the authorities to stop within 24 hours the unauthorised construction work of Destiny Group in Cox's Bazar district.

The bench of justices A H M Shamsuddin Chowdhury and Jahangir Hossain passed the order on Wednesday after hearing a writ petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB).

The rights organisation pressed the petition following a report published in a Bengali daily that Destiny Group is building a multi-storied building in the Cox's Bazar without approval from the appropriate authorities.

The deputy commissioner (DC) of Cox's Bazar district, superintended of police (SP) and officer-in-charge of Cox's Bazar Sadar Police Station have been directed to implement the order and submit a progress report by May 6.

The court also issued a rule asking the government to explain why its inaction to protect the environment of Cox's Bazar would not be declared illegal and why it would not be directed to remove the construction materials.

The environment secretary, director general of the Department of Environment (DoE), the Cox's Bazar DC and SP and municipal mayor have been directed to respond to the rule within three weeks.

Counsel for the petitioner Manzill Murshid told that the High Court on Mar 13 asked the government to take steps to stop all constructions inside the "ecologically critical area" on the Cox's Bazar beach.

"But the Destiny Group is constructing multi-storied building there which is contrary to the rule of law," he added.