PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION (PIL)

1. Hasina Begum
2. Intaz Uddin
3. Monjur Ali

1. The Secretary, Ministry of Textiles
2. The Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Public Works
3. The Secretary, Secretary, Ministry of Land
4. The Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs
5. Deputy Commissioner, Dhaka
6. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Dhaka
7. Inspector General of Police, Dhaka

The petitioners, BLAST and several residents of Bhashantek Basti challenged the threat of forced eviction of about 3260 people from Bhaashantek Basti, Kafrul, Dhaka. The threat to evict these persons, and to deploy police personnel for the purpose, was made at an inter-ministerial meeting as part of a decision to clear the area for use for the ‘Benaroshi Polli’ (the silk sari village) which was to be established there by the Textiles Ministry. The individuals living in this area had faced an earlier eviction in 1997, following which a low cost housing scheme had since been adopted by successive governments through the Ministry of Land for their resettlement in the first ever public-private partnership of this kind. The threat of eviction was being carried out despite the failure to fully implement this scheme, or to ensure the prior rehabilitation of the slum dwellers.

The High Court issued a Rule Nisi on the respondents to show cause as to why the action taken illegally for forcible eviction of about 3260 people from Bhashantek Basti, Kafrul, Dhaka and the notice given to the petitioners shall not be declared illegal and without jurisdiction and to be of no legal effect.

A stay Order was issued for two months from the date.

Mr. Justice M.A. Aziz

Mr. Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury

Extension of Stay order for 6 months.

Stay order granted earlier is extended till disposal of the Rule

Mr. Justice Md. Abdul Matin

Mr. Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed

The Petitioner filed an affidavit in reply to the affidavt in opposition filed by the respondent no 8.

Justice Naima Haider

Justice Razik- Al- Jalil

The petitioner made submission. the matter is heard in part and adjourned till 22.09.20

Justice Naima Haider

Justice Razik- Al- Jalil

The respondent no 8 prayed for adjourment and court allowed adjourment till 23.11.20

Justice Naima Haider

Justice Razik- Al- Jalil

The respondent no 8 prayed further adjourment and court allowed adjournment till 17.01.20

Justice Naima Haider

Justice Razik- Al- Jalil

After hearing the court kept the matter as part-heard and adjourned till 31.01.2021.

Mrs. Justice Naima Haider and
Mr. Justice Razik-Al-Jalil

The court adjourned the hearing till 22.02.2021

Mrs. Justice Naima Haider and
Mr. Justice Razik-Al-Jalil

After hearing the court adjourned  the hearing of the matter for 04 (four) weeks.

Mrs. Justice Naima Haider and
Mr. Justice Razik-Al-Jalil

Fixed for hearing in Court no. Annex-15.

Mr. Justice Khasruzzaman,

Mr. Justice A K M Zahid Sarwar.

Hearing was conducted by Learned Senior Advocate Barrister Sara Hossain and it was taken as “Heard in Part”

Mr. Justice Khasruzzaman,

Mr. Justice A K M Zahid Sarwar.

An application for substitution of deceased petitioner No. 1 and 2 was submitted to the court.

Mr. Justice Khasruzzaman,

Mr. Justice A K M Zahid Sarwar.

An application for substitution of deceased petitioner No. 1 and 2 is allowed. Aleya Begum is substituted as Petitioner 1(a), Mst. Hasia Begum and Sufia Begum are substituted as Petitioner 2(a) and 2(b).

Mr. Justice Khasruzzaman,

Mr. Justice A K M Zahid Sarwar.