SC turns down plea for halting bldg demolition

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Rajuk's picks and hammers will continue to tear down the much-talked-about 22-srtoried Rangs Bhaban, as the Supreme Court (SC) Sunday turned down the owners' plea for a halt through staying operation of the apex-court ruling that declared illegal construction beyond its sixth floor, reports UNB.
Chamber Judge M Hassan Ameen passed the order, following an application moved by the counsel for Rangs group seeking stay on the operation of Thursday's SC verdict. He sought the breather to file a review petition after getting the certified copy of the verdict.
The chamber judge, however, referred the matter for hearing to a regular bench of the Appellate Division.
Barrister Rafique-ul Huq, counsel for the Rangs, told UNB that the application would come up on the list for hearing as usual.
On August 02, the SC in its orders overruled the High Court judgment given seven years ago that had declared valid the construction of the Rangs Bhaban.
Meanwhile, Rangs authorities Sunday demanded punitive action against the RAJUK officials, who were responsible for approving the plan of the 22-storey Rangs Bhaban.
Assistant manager (project development) of Rangs Properties Tanvir Ahmed Sharif told UNB that the court should have given them at least five days to shift their expensive equipment and other goods. "How is it possible to shift so many heavy equipment and other goods within eight hours?" he said.
The Rangs official said they were very upset about the court's order, which did not allow the minimum time that was required to vacate the building. "Many of our expensive equipment and other goods got totally damaged during the demolition works that started from 8.0 am on Friday," he said.
About the Rangs employees, he said the management assured 4,000 employees who were working in the Rangs Bhaban that none would lose their jobs.
Terming RAJUK as the "largest corrupt organisation" in the country, assistant manager (marketing) of Rangs Properties Noor Hossain Zakaria said the RAJUK authorities quickly started the demolition works to hide their "corruption as they earlier approved construction of a 15-storey building."
Asked about the networking problem of RangsTel, he said all equipment of RangsTel have been shifted to its Chittagong office and the networks would work normally within three or four days.
The Rangs offices would be temporarily shifted to Mercedes Showroom in Tejgaon, Zakaria said.
Meanwhile, the some 350 workers employed by RAJUK worked in two shifts - 175 in each shift - to continue the demolition works of Rangs Bhaban for the third consecutive day Sunday.