Ctg Court Building likely to be a nat’l heritage site

CHATTOGRAM, Sept 22: The government has taken a step to declare the century-old Chattogram Court Building Hills, popularly known as Fairy Hills, as a national Heritage.
The Chattogram Court Building was constructed in 1894 during the then British regime. It is now one of the historic monuments of the port city of Chattogram housing the Divisional Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner's offices and 71 other courts and nearly other structures including shops, 5 buildings of
lawyers, etc.
To this end, the Archaeological Department under the Ministry of Culture constituted a three-member committee on September 21 last.
Deputy Director of Archaeology Department M Amiruzzaman was made the Convenor, Regional Director K M Saifur Rahman member and Assistant Architect Khondker Mahbub Alam was made the Member Secretary
According to a circular, the said committee will visit the Court Building on September 25 in order to conduct a feasibility study.
There were five buildings constructed by the Chattogram Bar Association in which over 2500 lawyers have been accommodated with their chambers.
Chattogram Bar Association has recently taken a step to build other two buildings namely Bangabandhu Ainjibi Bhaban and Ekushey Ainjibi Bhaban to house 600 more lawyers.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Mominur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner of Chattogram has issued a warning notice in the local newspapers over the constructions of new Bar Association Buildings at Fairy Hills (Court Building) on September 2.
In the warning notice, the DC mentioned that any step to construct illegal, unauthorised and risky structures on the Fairy Hills is a punishable crime. So, anybody or organisation tries to assist such an act will be brought under legal frame.
The Cabinet Division placed a proposal to the Prime Minister regarding the illegal structures at the Court Building which was accepted by her recently.
As a result, nearly 350 illegal structures will be demolished as per directives of the Prime Minister. Among the 350 structures five buildings of Chattogram Bar Association were included that housed more than 2500 lawyers.
The dispute between the lawyers and the district administration has ensued with the notification of the Chattogram Bar Association over the construction of two more buildings in a space in the Court Building to house over 600 lawyers.
With the declaration of the National Heritage, no new structures will be allowed in the Court Building site.
The government earlier declared Halda River as Bangabandhu Fish Heritage with 12 conditions in order to protect natural environment as well as to develop the environmental standard to ensure safety of carp fishes.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock published a circular on December 22 in 2020 in this connection. It may be mentioned that Halda River is one of the unique natural heritages of our country.