Ain o Salish Kendra terms Rajuk’s action ‘illogical’
The Rajuk also ordered the rights body to shift its office from Lalmatia within two next months.
The Ain o Shalish Kendra has expressed dissatisfaction over the Rajuk's mobile court drive at its office and termed the fine imposed on it "illogical".
It was done with an intention to harass the human rights organisation, alleged Sheepa Hafiza, executive director of ASK, during a press briefing at her office on Friday.
Earlier, on Thursday, a mobile court, led by Rajuk, fined the Ain o Salish Kendra Tk2 lakh under the Building Construction Act 1952, 3(A). The Rajuk also ordered the rights body to shift its office from Lalmatia area within next two months.
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However, the mobile court denied to give any copy of the order to the ASK when they asked for it, rather it told the rights body to file an application to the deputy magistrate for it. Later, on behalf of ASK, its senior deputy director Nina Gowshami did so.
Sheepa Hafiza said, "Firstly, the magistrate concerned asked us why our organisation was running the office in a residential area and we informed them that we run the office following all the conditions as a tenant."
"But still they ended up fining us Tk2 lakh and ordered us to leave the building within two months under Building Construction Act 1952, 3(A)," said the executive director of the ASK.
"We are tenants of the building. How can we be liable for any construction issue and how can they give any verdict against us under a law which we do not even have a scope to violate?" she questioned.
She further added, "We informed them that the law did not apply to the ASK, but they did not pay any heed to us and charged us aggressively. We were bound to sign the order paper and they collected the fine from us."
The ASK officials said they think such drive has created concern among human rights organisations and NGOs.
"As we run a non-profitable organisation, it is impossible for us to hire an office space in any commercial area," she added.
Tahmina Rahman, secretary general of Ain o Shalish Kendra, said, "We will now take every step that is possible for us constitutionally."
