HC issues rule not to harass law abiding hotel owners

Staff Reporter :
The High Court on Wednesday issued a rule asking the authorities concerned not to harass the owners of the hotels and restaurants that are following the rules and regulations.

The Court also asked concerned authorities to explain why the arrests of workers during raids on hotels and restaurants in the capital following the Bailey Road fire, should not be declared illegal.

The HC asked the inspector general of police to provide within the next 30 days a list of the total number of employees and workers arrested during raids. The HC bench of Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice Md Atabullah passed the order following a writ petition filed by the Bangladesh Restaurants Owners Association.

Senior advocate Ahsanul Karim moved the writ while Deputy Attorney General Tushar Kanti Roy and Assistant Attorney General Selim Azad stood for the state.

The High Court has asked the Secretaries to home, labour, employment and law ministries, and inspector general of police, Chairman of Rajuk, DNCC and DSCC, executive magistrate of Rajuk have been asked to respond to the rule within four weeks.

Advocate Ahsanul Karim told the journalists that some agencies and authorities have indiscriminately demolished restaurants without following the law properly soon after the fire incident on Bailey Road in the capital.

Even restaurants are being sealed off while these eateries are running their businesses following the rules and regulations, he said.