HC hearing on Sheraton’s extra-height demolition 18 Jan

The High Court will hold a hearing on 18 January to determine the validity of the civil aviation ministry's letter instructing the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) to demolish the additional part exceeding the 201-foot height of Hotel Sheraton in Banani.

Borak Real Estate has constructed a 28-storey building on 60 katha of land owned by Dhaka North City Corporation in Banani, a posh area of the capital. The building houses the five-star hotel.

Dhaka North and Borak Real Estate brought the matter to the High Court regarding the hotel's share. On 9 October, the court ordered the resolution of the matter in the presence of both parties.

In a separate development, the civil aviation and tourism ministry on 30 November wrote to Rajuk, instructing it to demolish the upper part above the 20th floor due to non-compliance with the construction instructions issued by the Civil Aviation Authority.

On Thursday, the High Court held a pre-scheduled hearing on the overall development of the hotel when Md Abu Taleb, the lawyer representing Borak Real Estate, submitted a petition for a hearing on the Rajuk letter.

According to court sources, the High Court bench, comprising Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat, scheduled the next hearing for 18 January in response to a time petition filed by the lawyer representing the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh.

Advocate Abu Taleb told The Business Standard that on 9 October, the High Court directed the parties to maintain the status quo regarding the spaces of the building in question from the 21st to the 28th floor until the disposal of the rule.

Therefore, the lawyer argued, the civil aviation and tourism ministry cannot issue such a letter, which has been given to the Rajuk.

"We already gave a notice of contempt of court to the civil aviation and tourism secretary and others concerned on 5 December," added Abu Taleb.