Dhaka, Feb. 8 -- The High Court on Sunday issued a contempt of court rule against the chairman of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) and four other officials over a move to lease out land along the Karnaphuli River, allegedly in violation of earlier court directives.

The bench of Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Md Ashif Hasan issued the rule following a contempt petition filed by the rights organisation Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB).

The five officials named in the rule are CPA Chairman SM Moniruzzaman; Additional Secretary (Administration) Md Habibur Rahman; Member (Finance) Md Shahidul Alam; Member (Engineering) Commodore Kausar Rashid; and Assistant Manager of the Port Authority's Estate Department Mohammad Rayan Uddin...