The Supreme Court ordered the Bangladesh Muktijoddah Kalyan Trust to compensate around Tk 990 million(99 crore) to the owner of the Moon Cinema Hall, reports UNB.
A five-member Appellate Division bench, led by acting Chief Justice Abdul Wahhab Miah, passed the order on Thursday.
As per the court order, the Trust has to pay the money in three instalments -Tk 250 million by first two months, Tk 25 million by next four months and the rest Tk 49 million by Jul 30.
Advocate Toufique Newaz stood for the managing director of Bangladesh Italian Marble Works Ltd which owns Moon Cinema while Attorney General Mahbubey Alam moved for the state.
In May 2011, the Supreme Court declared the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution unlawful and asked Muktijoddah Kalyan Trust to return the property of Moon Cinema Hall within three months.
Earlier in 2000, Italian Marble Works filed a writ petition with the High Court challenging the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution.
On August 29, 2005 the HC declared Fifth Amendment to the Constitution of Bangladesh illegal, which legitimized the governments that were in power from the time of the August 15, 1975, coup through April 9, 1979.
The then government announced a decree in 1977 that blocked challenges against the government's decisions to declare the property abandoned.
Moon Cinema Hall owner filed a contempt of court petition with the apex court on January 10, 2012 against the authorities concerned of the government and Muktijodhha Kalyan Trust for not executing its order.
Later, on January 15, 2017, the SC ordered the authorities concerned to assess the value of the land of the cinema hall and other establishments with the help of a skilled and neutral engineer.
Based on a report after assessed by Prof Jamilur Reza Choudhury, the apex court passed the order on Thursday.
