The High Court on Tuesday (May 11, 2021) issued a verbal order to halt cutting trees at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan till May 20. Justice Mamunur Rahman and Justice Khandaker Diliruzzaman’s virtual bench gave the order while hearing a contempt of court petition against Ministry of Liberation War Affairs and three government officials. The court directed Attorney General AM Amin Uddin to notify the authorities concerned and fixed May 20 for the next hearing on tree felling at Suhrawardy Udyan. Also read: No tree to be felled unnecessarily at Suhrawardy Udyan: Project Director Advocate Manzil Murshid filed the contempt petition on May 9, three days after serving a legal notice to the respondents. The notice was sent to the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh, Chief Engineer of Public Work Division Shamim Akhtar and Chief Architect of Bangladesh Mir Manjur Rahman. Also read: The fight to save Dhaka's 'oxygen bank' On May 6, another legal notice was sent to the authorities concerned to stop cutting trees by six different organisations and an individual. The notice was sent to Dhaka South City Corporation, Ministry of Housing and Public Works, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, Local Government Division, RAJUK, Department of Environment and Department of Public Works. Also read: 'Project rolled out to make March 7 venue a wonder to behold' A writ petition was filed in this regard on May 9, as the authorities didn’t respond to this notice either. The petitioners were - Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), Association for Land Reforms and Development (ALRD), Nijera Kori, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) and architect Mobassher Hossain.

A writ petition was filed at the High Court on Sunday to stop tree cutting at historical Suhrawardy Udyan in the pretext of beautification. On behalf of six organisations and an individual, advocate Minhajul Haque Chowdhury submitted the writ petition. The petitioners are - Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), Association for Land Reforms and Development (ALRD), Nijera Kori, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) and architect Mobassher Hossain. Also read: The fight to save Dhaka's 'oxygen bank' Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice SM Monirujjaman’s bench may hold a hearing on the writ petition on May 19. On May 6, a legal notice was sent to the authorities concerned to stop cutting the trees. The notice was sent to Dhaka South City Corporation, Ministry of Housing and Public Works, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, Local Government Division, RAJUK, Department of Environment and Department of Publik Works. Also read: No tree to be felled unnecessarily at Suhrawardy Udyan: Project Director A writ petition was filed today as the respondents did not respond to the notice. Petition against government officials Lawyer Manzil Murshid has filed a writ petition for issuing a contempt of court rule against three government officials, including a secretary for cutting trees in Suhrawardy Udyan, in violation of the 2009 HC directives. He said, “Following a writ petition on July 7, 2009, the HC directed the government to identify and preserve all the important historic places related to the Liberation War.” Also read: 'Project rolled out to make March 7 venue a wonder to behold' The court also ordered to set up memorial monuments of international standard at the historic places at Suhrawardy Udyan, removing all other establishments excluding the one related to the Liberation War, he said. “In complete violation of the court order, many trees had already been cut down at Suhrawardy Udyan for establishing restaurants and satisfy business interest,” said Murshid.