Dhaka: The High Court (HC) on Wednesday asked the authorities concerned to start the renovation work on Mouchak Market keeping it open.

An HC bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Abu Taher Md Saifur Rahman passed the order following a petition filed by Mouchak Market Banik Samity.

The High Court also asked the authorities concerned to refrain from snapping gas, power and water connections to the market during the renovation work.

On 7 June, 2016, the Supreme Court stayed for six weeks the High Court order that asked the authorities concerned to shut the shops of Mouchak Market in the city, terming the building risky, said Advocate Reza‐e‐Rabbi Khandaker.

Following the SC order, Dildar Ahmed, president of Mouchak Market Banik Samity, filed a supplementary petition before the High Court.

On 6 June, 2016, the HC ordered the authorities concerned to shut the shops of Mouchak Market terming its building risky after hearing a writ petition filed by building owner Ashraf Kamal Pasha.

The court asked the Housing and Public Works Secretary and Rajuk to carry out the order.

Rajuk served a notice on the Mouchak Market owner declaring the building risky and asked them to examine its capacity by Buet experts on 7 May 2014.

As per the recommendations of Buet, Rajuk on 2 May, 2016 asked the market authorities through a letter to renovate the building.

Building owner Ashraf filed the writ petition with the High Court challenging the Rajuk order.