The High Court today issued a contempt of court rule against the mayors of two Dhaka city corporations and Rajuk chairman for not implementing its directives over removing unauthorised structures from the roadside car parking spaces.
In the rule, the HC asked Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh; Dhaka North City Corporation (BNCC) Mayor Md Atiqul Islam and Chairman of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) Anisur Rahman, to explain in four weeks why the contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against them for not complying with its order delivered in July 2019.
The bench of Justice Md Khasruzzaman and Justice Md Iqbal Kabir Lytton issued the rule following a contempt of court petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) bringing allegations against the two city mayors and the Rajuk chairman of noncomplying its directives.
During the hearing of the petition, HRPB lawyer Manzill Murshid told the HC that the Rajuk chairman and Dhaka city mayors have been served a legal notice a few weeks back for implementing the HC directives.
But they did not take any effective steps to this effect which amount to contempt of court, he argued.
Following a petition filed by HRPB, the HC on July 3, 2019, the HC directed the Rajuk chairman and two mayors to take necessary steps for removing all unauthorised structures, including shops, from the car parking spaces beside the roads in Dhaka city in six months to ease traffic congestion and to ensure free movement of people.
Besides, the HC directed the DSCC and DNCC to submit progress reports after complying with the directive before this court. [The Daily Star]