High Court halts Swadesh Properties' Bailey bridge project over Boalia Canal in Khilkhet
HC also asked why the approval granted by Rajuk for the bridge construction on government land belonging to Boalia Canal should not be declared illegal.
The High Court has ordered a temporary halt to the construction of a Bailey bridge by Swadesh Properties Limited over Boalia Canal in Dhaka's Khilkhet area and suspended sand-filling activities in the waterway.
The order was issued yesterday (1 June) following a writ petition filed by local resident Delwar Hossain Dewan. The petitioner's lawyer, Rafsan-Al-Alvi, said the full written order was published today (2 June).
The court imposed the injunction on the construction of a Bailey bridge in the company's Swarnali Housing Project and also ordered a halt to sand-filling activities in the canal.
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The High Court also issued a rule asking why the approval granted by the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) for the bridge construction on government land belonging to Boalia Canal should not be declared illegal.
In addition, the rule sought an explanation as to why the failure of Rajuk and the Department of Environment (DoE) to stop the sand-filling activities should not be declared unlawful.
The court directed the Rajuk chairman and the director general of the Department of Environment to respond to the rule within four weeks.
According to the writ petition, concrete pillars have already been installed on Boalia Khal in Baothar Mouza, narrowing the canal's natural water flow.
The petition argues that the activities violate the Natural Water Body Conservation Act, 2000, and the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995 (amended in 2010).
The petition further states that the bridge is being constructed to facilitate access for residents of the Swarnali Housing Project and alleges that the project could cause significant inconvenience to local residents.
It also claims that the area is a flood-flow zone and that the bridge construction and sand filling could increase environmental risks.
No response from Swadesh Properties was mentioned in the court proceedings.
Notably, central BNP leader MA Quayum is the current managing director of the company. He took over in October 2024 after the previous proprietor, Awami League leader Wakil Uddin, fled the country following the fall of the government in August that year.
Previously, there were also allegations against Swadesh Properties involving the occupation of government khas land and flood-flow zones for housing projects.
