River land grabbers won’t contest polls: HC

The High Court (HC) has directed the Election Commission not to allow those persons who are accused in river land grabbing to contest any polls of the country. 

The HC bench of Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Md Ashraful Kamal on Sunday passed the order after hearing a writ petition on Sunday. 

The court ordered Bangladesh Bank to take steps so that any person accused of grabbing river land cannot get bank loan.

The court also ordered the National River Protection Commission to take necessary development measures and protection for all the rivers of the country.

The court declared Turag River as “legal and juristic person” and a living entity and asked the authorities concerned to remove all structures from it in the next 30 days.

The HC on Thursday observed that playing blind man’s buff (kanamachhi) over protection of rivers must stop, as grabbers return to occupy river banks even after their eviction.