6-hr hartal in Sylhet ends

Speakers at a rally held during the hartal at Court Point area demanded cancellation of the 'illegal' lease of the historic Singha Bari of Sylhet city given by the Deputy Commissioner and called for the lease extended to people who are in possession.

City Mayor, Badaruddin Ahmed Kamran, who is also the convenor of the Andolan, said that if the demands are not met, the next course of agitation will be announced from a grand rally on 31 July.

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On the other hand, the district administration in a written clarification claimed that things were done properly as the old lease was cancelled due to violation of lease conditions like construction of 10 shops on the property and sub-leasing of land.

However, the issue has now become complex as both the parties, the old and the new lessees, filed writ petitions in the high court during the last few weeks. Hearing of the three analogous cases will be held next week.