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The High Court has ordered a survey of the actual boundaries of Kaptai Lake in Rangamati and directed authorities to submit, within four months, a list of illegal structures inside the lake along with the names and addresses of their owners.
The court also set January 6, 2027, for submission of the report.
A High Court bench comprising Justice JBM Hasan and Justice Aziz Ahmed Bhuiyan passed the order on Sunday.
The court directed the Rangamati deputy commissioner and the director general of the Directorate of Surveys to conduct the survey based on the lake’s official map and submit a report.
The order came after Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) filed a public-interest writ petition over reports of illegal encroachment and pollution in Kaptai Lake. On October 17, 2022, the High Court issued a rule and ordered the removal of illegal structures and encroachers from the lake.
Following the start of eviction efforts, authorities found it necessary to conduct a detailed survey to accurately identify illegal occupants. The Rangamati deputy commissioner later informed the court that assistance from the Directorate of Surveys would be required.
HRPB subsequently filed a supplementary petition seeking a detailed boundary survey and a list identifying illegal occupants, including their names and addresses.
During Sunday’s hearing, senior lawyer Manzil Morshed, appearing for HRPB, said Kaptai Lake was created to facilitate the construction of the hydroelectric power plant, but various parts of the lake are now being illegally occupied, with structures built and people living there.
He also raised concerns over pollution, warning that continued encroachment and degradation could affect electricity generation.
Morshed said although several reports had highlighted the issue, the local administration had failed to take effective and specific action. Eviction efforts have also faced complications because many alleged encroachers are claiming ownership of the occupied land.
He argued that a precise survey of the lake’s boundaries is therefore necessary to identify genuine illegal occupants and facilitate their removal.
Morshed was assisted by lawyer Sanjoy Mondal. Deputy Attorney General Nur Mohammad Azmi represented the state.