Dhaka – The High Court has issued a rule challenging the legality of eviction notices served on residents of the staff quarters, commonly known as the Sweeper Colony, at Sir Salimullah Medical College and Mitford Hospital in Dhaka.
The court also directed the hospital authorities to dispose of an application submitted by the residents within 15 days.
A High Court Division bench comprising Justice Ahmed Sohel and Justice S.M. Iftikhar Uddin Mahmud passed the order on August 24, 2026, following the preliminary hearing of a writ petition filed by several residents of the colony, including members of the Harijan community.
The hospital authorities had issued eviction notices on July 7 and July 30, ordering the residents to vacate the premises.
According to the July 30 notice, all residents, including members of the Harijan community, were required to vacate the buildings by August 30, despite the absence of any immediate rehabilitation arrangements on the hospital premises.
The notice further warned that failure to vacate within the stipulated deadline could result in the disconnection of electricity, gas and water supplies. It also stated that the residents would bear responsibility for any subsequent losses or damages.
Challenging the legality of the notices and the proposed eviction without rehabilitation, several residents—including Mamala, Daloar Begum and Dara Lal Begis—filed the writ petition, numbered 11,751 of 2026. Civic Initiative, Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD) and Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) were also involved in the legal initiative.
During the hearing, the High Court issued a rule nisi asking the respondents to explain why the eviction notices should not be declared illegal, issued without lawful authority and therefore having no legal effect.
The court also directed Respondent No. 3, the Director of Sir Salimullah Medical College and Mitford Hospital, to dispose of an application submitted by the residents on August 4 within 15 days of receiving the court order, in accordance with law.
Advocate Utpal Biswas, a Supreme Court lawyer known for representing marginalised communities, appeared for the petitioners.
The High Court’s order provides temporary legal relief to the residents as they challenge the proposed eviction and seek a lawful solution, including rehabilitation.
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