No more illegal structures on Cox’s Bazar beach: HC
District authorities evict 677 illegal establishments
The High Court on Wednesday ordered the district administration of Cox's Bazar to be vigilant at all times to protect the natural features of its beach areas, dismissing charges against the district commissioner after he said he took remedial steps.
The HC also said its 2011 directive to protect the natural characteristics of Cox's Bazar sea beach be properly implemented.
The bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil passed the order after Deputy Commissioner Mamunur Rashid's office claimed to evict about 260 illegal establishments from the Baliyari Point and 417 more from the Sugandha Point of the sea beach.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Earlier, on 25 August, the court issued a contempt of court rule against nine people including Mamunur, and others concerned for not taking action to evict illegal structures.
In the rule, the court had asked the respondents why disciplinary action will not be taken against them for disobeying the court's 2011 order on evictions.
Following a writ petition filed by the Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) for stopping illegal constructions in the beach areas, the HC on 7 June 2011 had ordered the district authorities to evict all illegal establishments on the popular beach area.
This year different media outlets published news that the Cox's Bazar officials concerned had not followed through on the verdict.
As a result, the non-profit served a legal notice to Mamunur's office to implement the HC verdict.
After not getting any response, the organisation filed a contempt of court case with the HC against Mamunur and other district officials of Cox's Bazar.
Advocate Sarwar Ahad Chowdhury moved on behalf of the HRPB, while Senior Advocate Momtaj Uddin Fakir moved for the deputy commissioner during Wednesday's proceedings.
