The High Court issued Tuesday a rule over stopping the shipping of unfit and unregistered vessels on the Saint Martin route, which operates from Teknaf in Cox's Bazar.
Additionally, the court has asked the relevant bodies to provide an explanation as to why their inaction should not be deemed illegal
The High Court bench of Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice Md Atabullah issued the rule after hearing a writ petition filed by Anwar Hossain Chowdhury, a resident of Rampura area in the capital.
The High Court bench at the same time directed the authorities concerned to conduct an inquiry into all the unfit and unregistered boats and vessels plying on the Teknaf-Saint Martin route and submit a report in this court within 90 days.
Director General of the Department of Shipping, BIWTA and other respondents have been asked to comply with the High Court order.
Anwar Hossain Chowdhury filed the writ petition on November 25 this year seeking HC directives upon the government bodies to stop unfit and unregistered vessels plying on the waterway. He annexed a newspaper report published in this regard with the petition.
Lawyer Jausna Perveen appeared in the court hearing on behalf of the writ petitioner. According to the published report, "A few ships are running at risk on the Saint Martin route from Teknaf.
There is a possibility that these vessels may be sunk in the Bay of Bengla near border area of Myanmar due to violation of rules. Due to this, tourists are in a risk of losing their lives during the tourist season.
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