DHAKA: The High Court on Thursday rejected a writ petition filed by Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) against an order passed by the same Court earlier to evict structures from four rivers.

The court gave a fresh order to evict all structures from the bed of the Buriganga, Shitalakkhya, Turag and Balu rivers.

The High Court bench comprising Syed Mahmud Hossain and Justice Gobinda Chandra Thakur passed the order against the petition of BIWTA.

The BIWTA had sought Court’s directives not to demolish the structures set up on the rivers around the capital with permission of the authorities.
 
Following the HC verdict, seven business organizations, which set up establishments with BIWTA licenses, would have to remove their structures from the rivers sides.

Earlier on June 25, 2009, the HC directed the government to remove all illegal structures from the four rivers and build footpaths on the river banks.

Following the order, Narayanganj deputy commissioner on February 9 this year served a notice to seven trade institutions including City Group and Mollah Salt to evict their structures from the riverside.

Later the BIWTA, on behalf of seven institutions, filed a writ petition with the HC challenging the DC’s notice that was rejected Thursday.

The petitioner`s lawyer Manzill Morshed and public prosecutor Azmalul Hossain of BIWTC moved during the hearing.

BDST: 20:00 HRS, 5 Aug 2010