SC maintains status quo on construction at historic Mahasthangarh
Reports in 2010 revealed the shrine committee's plans to construct a mosque at Mahasthangarh.
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has ordered a status quo on all types of construction work at the historic Mahasthangarh in Bogura today (9 August).
Senior lawyer Manzill Murshid appeared in court on behalf of Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB).
He said the Appellate Division passed the order following a hearing on an appeal filed by the government against a High Court verdict from 2012, which had directed the preservation of the Mahasthangarh archaeological site in a public interest litigation filed by HRPB.
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Manzill Murshid added that during the hearing, Attorney General Ruhul Quddus Kazal, representing the government, highlighted the need to construct prayer spaces and washrooms for women visiting Mahasthangarh.
As construction within Mahasthangarh is prohibited, the attorney general petitioned for a modification of the earlier verdict to facilitate these facilities.
In 2010, media reported the shrine committee's attempt to build a mosque inside Mahasthangarh.
HRPB subsequently filed a writ petition in the public interest seeking directives to preserve Mahasthangarh.
The High Court Division then formed a committee and directed it to submit a report on the matter. The committee recommended constructing a mosque on the adjacent eastern side to preserve Mahasthangarh.
Following the hearing, the court imposed a ban on any development activities within the boundaries of the archaeological site.
