4 green activists secure bail
A writ petition was filed with the High Court on Tuesday seeking its directives to stop the construction of illegal structures in Dhanmondi playground and open it to all.
Six green activists, including former president of Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) Mobassher Hossain and joint secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa) Iqbal Habib, filed the writ.
Meanwhile, a lower court on Tuesday granted bail to four environmentalists on a bond of Tk 2,000 each in a case filed for ‘creating chaos entering Dhanmondi playground illegally’.
Barrister Sarah Hossain who appeared for the petitioners said the HC bench comprising Justice Salma Masud Chowdhury and Justice Habibul Gani fixed Sunday for next hearing on the writ following a petition filed by the state.
She said the appeal also sought HC directives to remove illegal structures from the Dhanmondi playground and a rule to explain why failure of the authorities concerned to implement two earlier HC orders should not be declared illegal.
The Local Government Division Secretary, the Housing Secretary, Dhaka South City Corporation, the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha Chairman, its Director (administration), the Chief Engineer of LGED and Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club have been made respondents.
On March 15, 2011, the High Court directed the authorities concerned to open the Dhanmondi playground to all removing all illegal structures within 15 days.
Meanwhile, Metropolitan Magistrate MA Salam of Dhaka granted bail to the four environmentalists after they surrendered before his court seeking bail.
Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club general secretary Arifur Rahman filed the case against the four after some green activists staged demonstrations protesting ‘illegal occupation’ of Dhanmondi playground by the club on April 18.
The four accused Mobassher Hossain, Iqbal Habib, architect Salma A Shafi and general secretary of Bangladesh Women’s Sports Association Kamrunnahar Dana.
Source: UNB Connect
