Construction work on Cox’s Bazar beach, contempt of court notice

Senior lawyer of the Supreme Court and president of Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) Manzil Morshed has given a contempt of court notice to four persons including the Deputy Commissioner on the allegation of starting construction work on the sand dunes of Cox’s Bazar sea beach by disobeying the court’s directive.

The notice was sent to Deputy Commissioner of Cox’s Bazar M A Mannan, Project Director Rashidur Rahman, Executive Officer of Cox’s Bazar Municipality Adnan Chowdhury and Bangladesh representative of JICA Takahashki Janko on Saturday.

In the notice a request has been made to stop the construction work within the next 24 hours. Warning has been given that if not done a case will be filed against the concerned on the charge of contempt of court.

Manzil Morshed told Views Bangladesh that after reports were published in the media regarding destroying the natural characteristics of the beach by constructing various structures on the sand of Cox’s Bazar sea beach HRPB filed a writ petition in public interest.

After the hearing of that writ the court in 2011 directed to protect the natural beauty and characteristics of Cox’s Bazar sea beach. At the same time directive was also given regarding not constructing structures in the sand of the beach.

It has been said in the notice that various structures had been constructed in the sand of the beach even earlier by disobeying that directive of the court. Later those structures were removed in two phases on the court’s directive.

Recently reports have been published in the media that construction work has started again in the beach area with the funding of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under the initiative of Cox’s Bazar Municipality. In the notice sent in this context it has been said that starting construction work on the sand dunes despite the specific directive of the court is a violation of the court’s order and it is tantamount to contempt of court.