HC revokes order that declared Ashiyan City project illegal

The High Court on Tuesday scrapped its previous order that declared the Ashiyan City housing project situated in the capital's Uttara illegal.

An HC special bench comprising justice Syed AB Mahmudul Huq, justice Naima Haider and justice Qazi Reza-Ul-Hoque passed the order after reviewing its earlier verdict following a petition filed by the project authorities.

On 16 January 2014, the High Court declared Ashiyan City housing project illegal.

The High Court bench of justice AB Mahmudul Haq, Justice Qazi Reza-Ul-Hoque and justice ABM Altaf Hossain delivered the verdict following a writ petition filed by eight organisations challenging the legality of the project.

On 3 September 2015, the managing director of the housing project filed a petition with the High Court seeking a review of the HC verdict that declared it illegal.

Later, chief justice SK Sinha formed the special bench with three judges for the review of the plea.

Talking to reporters, advocate Syeda Rizwana Hasan, who is one of the writ petitioners against the Ashiyan City housing project, said, “We’ll file leave-to-appeal petition against the order of the special bench.”

Eight human rights and environmental organisations, including Ain o Salish Kendra, Association for Land Reforms and Development, Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association and Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust, filed a writ
petition with the High Court on 22 December 2012 challenging the legality of Rajuk's approval and clearance certificate given by the Environment Directorate.