Dhaka: The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Sunday ordered to maintain the status quo on the establishments beyond the layout plan of the city’s Hatirjheel-Begunbari project.

A six-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain also ordered the High Court to dispose of its previous rule within two months, reports the UNB.

Earlier on September 10, a High Court bench led by Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice K M Hafijul Alam ordered the concerned authorities to remove all the establishments beyond the layout plan of Hatirjheel-Begunbari project within seven days after hearing a writ filed in the form of public interest litigation.

Besides, the HC issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain why directives would not be given to stop construction of structures beyond the layout plan of the project and protect the project as per the design.

Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner, officer-in-charge of Hatirjheel thana and the project director made respondents to the rule.

The writ was filed on behalf of Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh after a report was published in newspapers on August 1 about establishment of structures beyond the layout plan in the project area.

Later, the owner of ten business entities filed a stay petition with the Supreme Count.