Dhaka: Appellate Division of the Supreme Court granted six months’ time to Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) authorities for demolishing the BGMEA Complex constructed at Hatirjheel in Dhaka.

A three-member Appellate Division bench led by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha on Sunday issued the order.

The other two members are Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, and Justice Hassan Foyez Siddique.

Earlier, on 8 March, BGMEA filed a petition with the Supreme Court seeking three years’ time for demolishing the building

On behalf of the apex trade body of the country’s garment sector, Barrister Imtiaz Mainul Islam submitted the petition to the court.

Later, the Appellate Division bench fixed 9 March to hear the petition.

Talking to reporters, Barrister Mainul said it is not possible to pull down the BGMEA Complex overnight as offices situated in the high-rise will have to be relocated first.

‘For this, the BGMEA authorities need minimum three years,’ he said.

‘We haven’t yet found land for constructing another building. And it’s not possible to construct the building overnight even if the land is available as there’re many procedures, including taking permission from the Rajuk and other offices, for this. So, we need time to pull down the building,’ the lawyer said. 

On 5 March, the SC turned down the petition filed by the BGMEA authorities seeking review of its earlier judgment that had upheld a High Court order over the demolition of the ‘BGMEA Complex’.

A three-member Appellate Division bench, headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha, passed the order, clearing the way for bringing down the 15-storey building.

On 8 November last year, the SC released the full text of its verdict upholding the HC judgment that ordered BGMEA to immediately demolish the building at its own cost.

On 8 December, the BGMEA authorities filed a petition urging the apex court to review its verdict.