HC declares safe food as basic right

Staff Reporter :

The High Court of Bangladesh declared that safe food and potable water are fundamental rights of every citizen.

The ruling came after the final hearing of a suo moto rule issued by the court in 2020 to ensure access to safe drinking water and food for all.

The HC bench of Justice Md Ashraful Kamal and Justice Kazi Waliul Islam gave the verdict on Thursday (February 27) after settling the rule in this regard.

The bench, led by Justice Md Ashraful Kamal and Justice Kazi Waliul Islam, emphasised the state’s responsibility to guarantee clean and safe water. The court ordered the government to preserve all water sources across the country, ensuring they do not deteriorate, become unsafe, or suffer contamination.

This verdict, described as historic by Barrister Mohammad Humayon Kabir Pallab, aims to protect the public from waterborne diseases and improve public health.

Pallab added that if implemented, the ruling would significantly benefit the country’s largest population, especially in rural areas.

Under the verdict, the court underscored that, according to Article 32 of the Constitution, access to safe and clean drinking water is a constitutional right. The government has been directed to ensure the supply of safe drinking water in key public spaces within one year, including courts, hospitals, airports, and railway stations.

Additionally, the court instructed that by 2026, the government must submit a report detailing the actions taken to provide safe drinking water, free of charge, to all public places. Over the next decade, measures must also be implemented to ensure affordable access to safe water for all citizens.

This ruling follows a process that included contributions from senior advocates Manzil Morshed, Barrister Pallab, and Minhajul Haque Chowdhury, who served as amici curiae in the case.

The High Court has kept the case ongoing, ensuring continued oversight and accountability in the implementation of its directives.