The High Court on Wednesday ordered the government to stop construction of an elevated expressway extension from Bangladesh Film Development Corporation to Palashi crossing near Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology through Panthakunja Park and the Hatirjheel water body in Dhaka.
The court also asked the authorities not to block public access to Panthakunja Park and Hatirjheel.
The ruling came in response to a writ petition filed by environmental activists, university professors, and members of the Bangladesh Tree Protection Movement.
They include Bangladesh Tree Protection Movement coordinator Amirul Rajiv, writer and columnist Professor Anu Muhammad, Dhaka University professors Gitiara Nasreen and Samina Luthfa, Jahangirnagar University professor Adil Mohammad Khan, and environmental activists Syed Mahbubul Alam, Naim Islam, and Firoz Ahmed.
They earlier raised concerns, stating that the project would damage green spaces and a major urban water body鈥攂oth important for the city鈥檚 environment and public recreation.
The court asked the government to explain why the expressway extension should not be declared illegal and why it should not be moved to a more suitable location that would not affect the environment.
The High Court also questioned why the original water body from Moghbazar to FDC in Hatirjheel should not be restored.
Government departments and project authorities鈥攊ncluding the Road Transport Ministry, Environment Ministry, and Dhaka South City Corporation鈥攈ave been asked to respond to the court鈥檚 order.
The petitioners鈥� lawyer, Jyotirmoy Barua, submitted before the court that the construction of the elevated expressway extension from FDC to Palashi was destroying vital green space in Panthakunja Park and harming local biodiversity.
