DHAKA: The High Court on Sunday ordered to stop illegal building constructions in the southern side of archaeological site Rabindra Kacharibari at Shahzadpur in Sirajganj district.

An HC vacation bench comprising Justice Naima Haider and Justice Akram Hossain Chowdhury handed down the order in response to a writ petition filed in public interest by Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Monjil Morshed.

The HC also issued a rule asking to explain within four-week why the protection order to the site should not be given.

Cultural Affairs ministry secretary, director general of Archeology Department, Sirajganj district deputy commissioner, Shahzadpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Shahjadpur Thana officer-in-charge, Shahzadpur Municipality Mayor, Shahzadpur Upazila Parishad chairman, Rabindra Kacharibari reservoir and M Ramjan Ali of Yarn Merchant Association were made respondents to the rule.

Advocate Monjil filled the writ on Thursday attaching a report published on the matter in a Bengali daily and also moved for the hearing at the court on the day.

On 2004, the association bought a piece of land in the southern side of the site and built a one-story concrete market and began construction works of the another story on 2006. 

The construction works remained stopped following an order of the Archeology Department, but which was began on 2007 and stopped again following another order of   the department.

On 30 May 2014, the association began the construction works again ignoring the several orders of the department.

A Bengali daily published a report on the constriction works, Advocate Monjil filled a writ in public interest with the HC on Thursday attaching the report and the HC ordered to stop construction on Sunday.

BDST: 1630 HRS, AGU 10, 2014