The High Court today issued a contempt of court rule against Chittagong City Corporation mayor and seven government high officials for not complying with its 2016 directive over removal of the structures built on the Karnaphuli river in Chittagong.

In the rule, the court asked them to explain in four weeks why they should not be punished for committing contempt of court for not complying with its directive.

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Karnaphuli in peril

The seven government officials are Chittagong Development Authority chairman, commissioner  and secretary of Chittagong Metropolitan Police, director general of Department of Environment, deputy commissioner of Chittagong; chairman of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority and chief executive officer of Chittagong City Corporation.

The HC bench of Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam and Justice Mohammad Ali came up with the rule following a contempt of court petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh, a rights organisation.

Petitioner’s counsel Advocate Manzill Murshid told The Daily Star that following a writ petition, the HC on August 16, 2016 had directed the respondents for removing 2,181 structures illegally built on the Karnaphuli river in Chittagong in 90 days to save it from encroachment and pollution.

But, they have not taken any step to comply with the HC directive so far which is a contempt of court, he added.

Advocate Manzill also said he sent a legal notice to the respondents on June 25 this year requesting them to remove the structures from the Karnaphuli river, but they did not make any response to the notice.