Dhaka: The High Court on Sunday issued a rule asking the government to explain under what authority then East Pakistan provincial governor Abdul Monem Khan had been allocated over five bighas of land at Banani of Dhaka in 1967.

An HC bench comprising Obaidul Hassan and Justice Krishna Debnath came up with the order while hearing a writ petition filed by Monem’s son Kamruzzaman Khan seeking a stay on an eviction drive launched by Dhaka North City Corporation.

Rajuk chairman, housing and public works secretary and the city corporation will have to reply to the rule in four weeks.

The court also asked the DNCC and Rajuk to determine the greenbelt of the area as in Rajuk’s layout plan and submit a report in two days in this regard, fixing 28 November for the next hearing.

On 3 November, a DNCC mobile court, led by its executive magistrates M Nuruzzaman Sharif and Mohammad Sajid Anwar, reclaimed 10 kathas of government land at Banani from illegal occupation.

Later, Monem’s son Kamruzzaman Khan filed a writ petition with the High Court seeking a stay order on the drive whereby the court on 7 November wanted to know why Monem’s house was demolished although there is an injunction.

It also asked the DNCC to halt the drive for seven days and explain in written within seven days.

The High Court heard the DNCC explanations on Sunday and came up with the rule, said DNCC counsel Ahsanul Karim.