SC bars Salim Khan from extracting sand from Meghna river

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) on Sunday canceled a High Court verdict that had allowed Md Salim Khan, chairman of Chandpur's Lakshmipur union, to extract sand from the Meghna river in the district.

A three-member apex court bench headed by Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique passed the order, disposing of a civil petition filed in this regard.

Attorney General AM Amin Uddin and Deputy Attorney General Qazi Mainul Hasan took part in the hearing for the state, while Barrister Azmalul Hossain QC argued for Salim Khan.

"No rules or regulations were followed for extracting sand there. The Appellate Division today scrapped the High Court judgment, barring extraction of sand from there," Attorney General AM Amin Uddin said.

The High Court on April 5, 2018, passed the judgment, allowing Md Salim Khan to extract sand from the Meghna river. Following a state plea, the Appellate Division chamber judge court on April 4, 2022, stayed the High Court judgment and sent the matter to the apex court full bench for further hearing.

The Supreme Court today came up with the order after holding a hearing on the state petition.

Source: BSS