DHAKA: The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Monday (April 2) granted BGMEA one year time to demolish its illegally constructed headquarters in city’s Hatirjheel area.
The court gave this order after taking an undertaking from BGMEA that it will not ask for any more time to knock down the building.
A four-member appellate bench led by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order this morning.
Earlier on Wednesday (March 28), the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court directed the BGMEA to submit a fresh undertaking before it by this day as the previous one had some ambiguity in facts.
Lawyer advocate Kamrul Haque Siddiqui moved for BGMEA. Barrister Imtiaz Moinul Islam accompanied him.
High Court amicus curiae Advocate Monjil Morshed was present.
Earlier in the day, the BGMEA submitted an undertaking to the top court saying it won’t plea for time extension if it gets one more year to demolish the building. BGMEA’s current board of directors will be liable if more time is sought, it said.
The appellate division bench returned the undertaking saying the current board of directors of BGMEA may not remain in the office after six months or one year. The BGMEA will remain liable if the order is not maintained, said the court.
“BGMEA itself will demolish the building upon completion of the time, as per the court instruction. BGMEA will remain liable if it disobeyed the instruction. It has been asked to submit the undertaking Monday. The court will consider the plea of time expansion on Monday, I hope”, said Monjil Morshed.
Earlier on Tuesday (March 27), the Supreme Court said it will consider the time seeking plea of BGMEA if the garment industry association comes up with an undertaking not to seek time further for demolishing the 15-storey building.
Following the order, BGMEA agreed to give an undertaking in court on Wednesday and seek one more year time.
However, the SC earlier fixed March 27 to pass an order on a petition filed by the BGMEA seeking a year time for demolishing its 15-storey building.
BGMEA constructed the building illegally in Begunbari and Hatirjheel Lake areas in Dhaka.
BDST: 1045 HRS, April 2, 2018
AH/SMS
