Dhaka: The Supreme Court on Monday stayed a High Court order that scrapped its previous verdict declaring the Ashiyan City housing project in Dhaka’s Uttara area illegal.

A five-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice SK Sinha, passed the order.

After the verdict, the plot sale and advertisement of Ashiyan City housing project in Uttara will now be stayed.

On 16 August, a special HC bench comprising Justice Syed AB Mahmudul Huq, Justice Naima Haider and Justice Qazi Reza-Ul-Hoque scrapped its previous verdict following a petition filed by the project authorities.

On 17 August, the petitioners, filed review appeal. Taking cognizance of the appeal, the Supreme Court fixed today (August 22) for the hearing.

Earlier on 16 January, 2014, the High Court declared Ashiyan City housing project illegal.

The High Court bench of justice AB Mahmudul Haq, Justice Qazi Reza-Ul-Hoque and justice ABM Altaf Hossain delivered the verdict following a writ petition filed by eight organisations challenging the legality of the project.

On 3 September, 2015, the managing director of the housing project filed a petition with the High Court seeking a review of the HC verdict that declared it illegal.

Later, Chief Justice SK Sinha formed the special bench with three judges for the review of the plea.

Eight human rights and environmental organisations, including Ain o Salish Kendra, Association for Land Reforms and Development, Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association and Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust, filed the writ petition with the High Court on 22 December, 2012 challenging the legality of Rajuk’s approval and clearance certificate given by the Environment Directorate.