Dhaka: The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Monday upheld the High Court order that asked Concord Group to hand over its 18-storey tower in Azimpur of Dhaka to Sir Salimullah Muslim Orphanage.

A three-member Appellate Division bench, led by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, passed the order.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam stood for the state, advocate Manzill Murshid for petitioner and Advocate W Moshiuzzaman and Barrister Anik R Haque for the orphanage.

Earlier on September 17, 2015, the High Court (HC) declared illegal the 18-storey tower constructed by Concord Group on a piece of land belonging to Sir Salimullah Muslim Orphanage in the capital’s Azimpur area and directed the Concord Group authorities to handover the possession of the building and other establishments built on the orphanage’s land to the orphanage within 30 days.

The HC declared the deeds and power of attorney of the president and secretary of Concord Group regarding the land dated July 22, 2013 and April 13, 2014 cancelled, as the deeds and power of attorney have become void ab initio (dead from birth).

After the HC order, the Concord Group filed petition with the SC against the order.

In 1909, Sir Salimullah built the orphanage in Azimpur area.

Later, the government leased some land to the orphanage authorities for expansion.