HC to hear contempt case against Cox’s Bazar DC, 3 others tomorrow

The High Court today (31 August) fixed tomorrow (1 September) for hearing a contempt petition against Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner and three others over alleged construction inside the sand dunes of Cox's Bazar beach.

A High Court bench comprising Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Aziz Ahmed Bhuiyan fixed the date after it was placed before the court today.

Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) filed the petition yesterday (30 August) following media reports of construction work inside the beach dunes.

Senior lawyer Manzil Morshed, appearing for the petitioner, said the High Court had earlier issued a rule in a public interest writ petition and, after hearing the case, directed in 2011 that the natural features of Cox's Bazar sea beach be preserved and all structures built on the sand dunes be removed.

Following the court's order, various structures on the dunes were removed in two separate drives, he said.

However, Cox's Bazar municipality has taken up a project involving construction inside the sand dunes, allegedly in violation of the court's order, Morshed said.

The contempt petition was filed over the allegation and the court heard it today. The state sought time during the hearing, prompting the court to fix tomorrow for further proceedings, he said.

The court will also hear a separate writ petition filed by the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela) over the issue tomorrow.

Morshed said a writ petition was filed in 2010 in the public interest when various structures were being built by occupying parts of the beach. Following a lengthy legal battle, the court ordered the authorities to preserve the beach's natural features and remove all structures from the sand dunes.

"After 24 August, they are again trying to occupy the beach by constructing a road on the sand dunes, which amounts to contempt of court," Morshed said.