The High Court today declared a plan to house 178 shops on the first-floor of Dhaka’s New Market with steel structures illegal.

It was declared illegal on grounds that the plan is contradictory to the 1951 masterplan and that the new construction will damage the environment.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) had issued the plan to make steel housing of first floor at New Market housing 178 shops in February last year.

The High Court bench of Justice Sheikh Hasan Arif and Justice Razik-Al Jalil came up with the verdict after hearing a writ petition challenging the legality of DSCC’s plan.

Dr dewan Aminul Islam, president of Dhaka New Market Traders’ Association, and its Joint Secretary Md Sohel Bepari submitted the petition in February last year saying that the environment of the new market area would be damaged if the plan were implemented.

The HC on Feb 12 last year, stayed the effectiveness of the DSCC’s plan and also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain why the plan should not be declared illegal.

After holding hearing on the rule, the HC today delivered the order.

The writ petitioners’ lawyer, Barrister Aneek R Haque told The Daily Star that the DSCC cannot construct the first-floors of the 178 shops at the New Market with steel structures following the HC verdict.