HC passed ‘no order’ on writ petition on bus fare hike
The High Court on Thursday upheld the government’s decision to increase bus fare by 60 percent for the period of the coronavirus pandemic.
The court passed “no order” on a writ petition that challenged the legality of the notification issued by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority’s (BRTA) hiking bus fare, said Attorney General AG Mahbubey Alam who took part in the hearing for the State.
The High Court Bench of Justice JBM Hassan passed the order after holding virtual hearing on the writ petition through video conference.
AG Mahbubey Alam said that the High Court’s passing “no order” means that the gazette notification issued by the government
increasing the bus fare by 60 percent will remain in force for the interim period.
During the hearing, Attorney General opposed the writ petition saying that the buses have to carry half of the passengers due to coronavirus pandemic.
Besides, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority has been empowered to take decision to increase the bus fares as necessary as per the Road Transport Act, and therefore, there was no illegality in issuing the gazette notification increasing the bus fares, he added.
Barrister Mohammad Humaun Kabir who appeared for the writ petitioner said that he had placed the writ petition in another High Court Bench as one High Court Bench passed no order over his petition.
Law and Life Foundation, a rights organization, on June 1 filed the writ petition with the High Court challenging the government’s decision to increase bus fare by 60 percent.
The organization submitted the writ petition as a public interest litigation with the High Court through an email seeking stay on the gazette notification.
Barrister Humaun Kabir said that the middle class and lower middle class people mostly choose buses and minibuses to travel from one place to another. They could barely afford the previous bus fare, he said, adding that the middle class and lower middle class are now facing serious financial crisis due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
He said the government’s decision to increase bus fare is contradictory to the fundamental rights of the people and is also illegal.
The fare hike was announced through a gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges on May 31 in response to a demand of the transport owners as they will have to keep 50 per cent seats vacant to prevent spread of the virus.
