HC asks AG to stop tree felling at Suhrawardy till May 20

The High Court asked Attorney General AM Amin Uddin on Tuesday to take necessary steps so that no trees at Suhrawardy Udyan are felled till May 20.

The court also fixed May 20 for hearing a contempt of court petition filed against the government on the charge of clearing trees and setting up restaurant at Suhrawardy Udyan, ignoring the HC's 2009 verdict.

An HC bench comprising Justice Mamnoon Rahman and Justice Khandaker Diliruzzaman passed the order when lawyer Manzill Murshid placed the petition and arguments before it.

Attorney General AM Amin Uddin requested the court to fix May 20 for hearing the contempt of court petition, saying that he has to talk to the government authorities for placing arguments on the issue.

Besides, a writ petition filed against cutting trees at Suhrawardy Udyan is pending with another HC bench, he said, adding that both the petitions may be heard at a time.

Manzill Murshid prayed to the HC bench to hold a hearing on his contempt of court petition on May 17, saying that the matter involved public interest as trees are being cut at Suhrawardy Udyan in violation of the HC'S 2009 directives, damaging the environment.

Two Supreme Court lawyers--Mahbubul Islam and Ripan Barai--filed the contempt of court petition with the HC on May 9, seeking its directive on three government officials to cancel all tree-felling activities, and subsequently setting up a restaurant at Suhrawardy Udyan.