Court Correspondent :
The High Court Division of the Supreme Court on Thursday ordered authorities concerned to investigate giving the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited’s (DMTCL) 7,580 square-foot staff canteen at its Uttara depot of MRT Line-6 for only Taka1,000 per month.
A High Court Division bench of Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice Md. Atabullah passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed in connection with the incident.
The apex court, in its order, asked the Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary to investigate the matter and submit a report within one month.
The court also issued a rule, asking the authorities concerned to explain why the court shall not declare the decision of renting out that big canteen space at such a cheap rate, as illegal and without lawful authority.
According to the newspaper reports, DMTCL through a notification on March 14 stated the process to give the space on rent.
Signed by the General Manager (Operation and Procurement) Md. Nazrul Islam, the notification said DMTCL is giving the space on rent for Taka 12,000 a year to contractor firm Khandaker Enterprise.
The news allegedly created sensations on social media. Supreme Court lawyer Tanvir Ahmed filed the writ challenging the decision of the DMTCL. Advocate Tanvir moved the plea before the court himself, while Assistant Attorney General Selim Azad stood for the state.