United News of Bangladesh

The High Court has issued a six-month injunction restraining the authorities concerned from disconnecting electricity, gas and water connections to under-construction buildings in Dhaka. The order came in response to a writ petition filed by the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB), seeking protection against the disconnection of utility services at construction sites. According to a media release issued by REHAB on Sunday afternoon, the court directed that during this period, WASA, RAJUK and the power division will not be able to disconnect any utility connections. Crowds surge on final day of REHAB Fair 2025 as buyers seek dream homes The bench of Justice Sikder Mahmudur Razi and Justice Raziuddin Ahmed passed the order recently. During the hearing, REHAB placed before the court the possible adverse impacts of disconnecting utility services. Taking these submissions into account, the court issued the interim order considering humanitarian aspects, including the daily lives of families living in partially constructed buildings and their dependence on water and electricity. In its order, the court said the authorities must refrain from disconnecting electricity lines, water connections or any other utility services for the next six months and maintain the status quo until final disposal of the matter. As a result of the order, owners and developers of the concerned buildings will get immediate relief from potential hardships. The court noted that disconnection of water and electricity often creates severe crises, which it took into consideration while issuing the injunction. REHAB said that over the past few months, more than 1,200 electricity meters were disconnected from various under-construction and partially completed buildings with the assistance of RAJUK, DESCO, DPDC and other power distribution companies. The association claimed that the disconnection of electricity and utility services at developers’ projects had effectively stalled many construction works. As a result, construction activities were halted, workers and related employees lost their jobs, flat handovers were delayed, and developers suffered significant financial losses. It also created complications such as difficulties in repaying bank loans, maintaining contracts with clients and stagnation of investments, which have had an overall negative impact on the housing sector, REHAB added. Citing these realities, REHAB moved the court, which subsequently issued the interim injunction against the authorities concerned.  

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Fazle Noor Taposh on Monday said the under-construction buildings are responsible for 40 percent of dengue infections in the city. “The under-construction buildings created obstruction to control mosquitoes though we are conducting drives regularly. Besides, the authorities also slapped fines in some cases. But no visible steps have been seen from the real estate businessperson,” he said. DSCC mayor revealed this information while speaking at a view-exchange meeting over controlling dengue and chikungunya, held at the Nagar Bhaban. Also read: Civic body launches anti-dengue drive in north Dhaka Issuing a warning, Taposh also said if the real estate businessperson would not take any steps to improve the environment then they will not only fine them but also stop construction work of the building. He also urged the real estate businessperson under government organisations to take steps to destroy Aedes mosquitoes, which are the vectors of the virus.. “It is our duty to keep the residents of Dhaka free from spread of Aedes mosquitoes and outbreaks of dengue. It will be possible when we make it a social movement and it is impossible for only city corporations,” he said. Also read: As mosquitoes rage across Dhaka, Mayor Taposh finds ‘solution in public awareness’ Besides, Taposh also stressed the need for creating awareness among people with a slogan ‘To remove accumulated water regularly instead of three days’.

Mobile courts fined a number of houses and establishments Tk 46,000 on Sunday for having the larvae of Aedes mosquito on their premises in different parts of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC).   The mobile courts conducted drives in Uttara, Mirpur-2, Shahzadpur, Kalaura and Shah Alibagh areas of Mirpur-10, Karwan Bazar, Bhatara, Nurer Chala and Sutipara areas from 10am to 12pm as part of a combing operation, said  a press releae.   During the drive, DNCC officials visited 1,748 houses, establishments and under-construction buildings.   It also issued warnings to some homeowners as they failed to cooperate with the city corporation authorities in controlling the Ades mosquito spread.   In a bid to protect the city dwellers from dengue, the DNCC launched the combing operation from Saturday and conducted the mobile court drives alongside it.   During the mobile court drives, starting May 10, have so far realised Tk 1,67,300 in fines till Sunday, said the press release.   Bangladesh witnessed a major dengue outbreak last year that put severe strain on the country’s health care system. As the country struggles with rising number of coronavirus cases, a dengue outbreak at this time like the previous year will come as a devastating blow.