BGMEA seeks 1yr for building relocation

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has filed a petition with the Supreme Court seeking one-year time for relocating its office building from Hatirjheel area of Dhaka.

BGMEA President Siddiqur Rahman submitted the petition through its lawyer on August 23 saying that the relocation of the BGMEA office building is under process.

Read more: Illegal Building: BGMEA gets 6 months for demolition

In the petition, Siddiqur said the BGMEA has created a fund for constructing its new office building in Sector 13 of Uttara in Dhaka.

The Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) has already allocated a land in Uttara for constructing the BGMEA office complex and hence the BGMEA needs one-year time for relocating its 15-storey building from Hatirjheel area, he also said in the petition.

The apex court will hold a hearing on the petition after it reopens on October 3 following its ongoing annual vacation, BGMEA lawyer Barrister Imtiaz Moinul Islam told The Daily Star.

Earlier on March 12, the SC gave the BGMEA six months to demolish its 15-storey office complex, constructed illegally in the capital's Begunbari canal and Hatirjheel lake.

The six-month period will expire on September 12, the BGMEA lawyer said.

On March 5, the SC dismissed a petition filed by the BGMEA seeking review of its judgement upholding a High Court order delivered in 2011 for demolishing the structure. It had also asked for the time petition.

The HC verdict had ordered the government to demolish the building within three months, saying it was built on land acquired through forgery and filled with earth illegally.

Later, the SC stayed the HC verdict following a petition by the BGMEA.

On June 2 last year, the SC gave a short order, dismissing the BGMEA appeal and upholding the HC verdict.

The SC released the full verdict on November 8, asking the BGMEA to immediately demolish the building with its own money. Otherwise, Rajuk would do it within 90 days of receiving the order and realise the cost from the BGMEA.

The BGMEA submitted the review petition on December 8.