HC fines building owner for construction violating order

The High Court today fined one Billal Hossain, a building owner at Mirpur area in Dhaka, Tk 10 lakh for constructing an extension of a structure in violation of its order of status quo.

The court ordered Billal Hossain to deposit the fine money to Ahsania Cancer Hospital in the next two months.

At the same time, the HC asked Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkho (Rajuk) to dispose in 30 days an appeal filed by Billal Hossain challenging its (Rajuk) decision to demolish his building.

The HC bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Md Khairul Alam came up with the verdict after hearing a writ petition and a contempt of court petition filed in connection with the issue.

The writ petition was filed by Billal Hossain challenging the Rajuk decision while the contempt of court petition was submitted by Shahidul Islam Jewel, who has a plot adjacent to the building of Billal Hossain.

Shahidul's lawyer Humayun Kabir Pallab told The Daily Star that Billal Hossain has constructed a three-storey building in 2017 without approval from Rajuk.

Shahidul submitted an application to Rajuk seeking necessary steps against the constitution and accordingly Rajuk sent a notice to Bilal Hossain to demolish the building.

Billal then filed a writ petition with the HC challenging Rajuk's notice.

Following the writ petition, the HC in 2018 issued status quo on further construction of the building.

But, Billal extended the three-storey building to five-storey building in violation of the HC order of status quo.

Shahidul then filed a contempt of court petition with the HC against Billal, lawyer Pallab said.

Deputy Attorney General Tushar Kanti Roy confirmed the HC verdict to The Daily Star. Billal's lawyer Firoz Uddin Ahmed could not be communicated for his comment on the issue.