Bangladesh Environment Lawyers Association (Bela) yesterday served a legal notice on the authorities concerned to stop any construction work threatening the habitat and movement of critically endangered Bostami turtles at the shrine of Hazrat Baizid Bostami (R) in Chittagong.

The Bostami shrine pond is the only place in the world where the rare Bostami turtles are available, said the notice.

Bela has served the notice as a real estate company called JMG Holding has began construction of an unapproved multi-storey market threatening the mazar pond along with its environment and biodiversity, said a press release.

The Bela notice also asked the authorities to declare the shrine area as a heritage and environmentally vulnerable location.

The World Conservation Union (IUCN) has announced the Bostami turtles (Aspideretes nigricans) as critically endangered in its "Red Book of Threatened Amphibious and Reptiles of Bangladesh,” it added.

This species of turtle requires open space with sufficient sunlight and air for survival, which would be threatened with the construction of the building.

The legal notice was served to the shrine committee, the real estate company and also to the government offices concerned.

A similar legal notice served on March 13,2008 had halted the filling of the pond and construction of the building.