The chief engineer of the local government engineering department and the executive engineer of Jessore have been asked to explain their position regarding the non-maintenance of proper vertical-horizontal space in accordance with the construction control rules for inland waterways and embankments in the construction of eight bridges over five rivers in Jessore.

For this, the High Court has directed the chief engineer of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) or his representative and the executive engineer of Jessore to appear in court on June 11.

The High Court bench consisting of Justice KM Kamrul Quader and Justice Khizir Hayat gave this order on Tuesday after hearing an application.

The court said that all construction activities will be stopped during this time. Rebates to contractors will be suspended until further orders.

A report was published in media in June last year titled ‘River Killing’ on 11 low-height bridges in Jessore. Iqbal Kabir Zahid, advisor of the Bhairav ​​River Reform Movement, wrote a writ last year seeking necessary instructions in this regard, adding the report.

On November 27 last year, the High Court gave an order along with the preliminary hearing of the writ. The order directed to keep proper vertical-horizontal space in the construction of the bridge as per the Inland Waterway and Embankment Construction Control Rules and to submit an affidavit report within three months regarding the permission of the concerned authorities. This order was issued to the four defendants, including the chief engineer of LGED, the executive engineer of Jessore.

A report was published in a daily on February 25 under the title ‘Bridge construction work is going on in Bhairav ​​river: High Court’s instructions are violated’. Attaching the report, the writ petitioner filed an application seeking necessary instructions to implement the order passed on November 27. On the other hand, statement in the form of affidavit was filed on behalf of the Chief Engineer. The court ordered the hearing.

Lawyer M Shamsul Haque heard on behalf of the writ petitioner in the court. Lawyer Saiful Islam was with him. Lawyer SM Zahirul Islam stood for the chief engineer.

Later, lawyer M Shamsul Haque told media that proper vertical-horizontal space should be kept in the construction of the bridge according to the rules governing the construction of structures on inland waterways and bank land. So that the normal course of the river is correct and the navigation is not disturbed. The writ was filed for not keeping proper vertical-horizontal space as per the rules and not taking permission from the concerned authority (Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority) in the construction of eight separate bridges over five rivers including Bhairab of Jessore Sadar Upazila. The High Court directed to keep the site and construct it as per the rules. As this order was not implemented, the court ordered the hearing after the application was made asking for the necessary instructions.