rise in launch terminal entry fees

HC gives govt 4 weeks to explain

The High Court (HC) has issued a rule asking the government to explain in four weeks under which authority it has increased the entry fees of launch terminals across the country. It also asked the government yesterday to explain why the decision of hiking entry fees of launch terminals should not be declared illegal. In response to a writ petition, the HC bench comprising Justice FRM Nazmul Ahsan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader came up with the rule. A total of nine officials, including the secretaries to the ministries of shipping, law and finance and the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) chairman, have been made respondents to the rule within four weeks. Supreme Court lawyer Mohammad Abu Taleb had on October 28 filed the writ petition with the HC challenging the government decision and seeking to overturn the government’s decision to hike entry fees at launch terminals across the country.

The BIWTA authority had on September 30 issued a notification increasing the entry fee for each person at the building (Paka) terminal from Tk 5 to Tk 10 and at the tin-shed terminals from Tk 3 to Tk 5. The authority can increase the entry fees under the ‘BIWTA Ordinance 1958’.

However, the government did not formulate any law under the ordinance before hiking the entry fees. Therefore, he said, the decision to increase entry fees at launch terminals is

illegal. Advocate Abu Taleb moved on behalf of his petition while Deputy Attorney General Abdullah Al Mahmud Bashar represented the state during yesterday’s proceedings.

 

rise in launch terminal entry fees

HC gives govt 4 weeks to explain

The High Court (HC) has issued a rule asking the government to explain in four weeks under which authority it has increased the entry fees of launch terminals across the country. It also asked the government yesterday to explain why the decision of hiking entry fees of launch terminals should not be declared illegal. In response to a writ petition, the HC bench comprising Justice FRM Nazmul Ahsan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader came up with the rule. A total of nine officials, including the secretaries to the ministries of shipping, law and finance and the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) chairman, have been made respondents to the rule within four weeks. Supreme Court lawyer Mohammad Abu Taleb had on October 28 filed the writ petition with the HC challenging the government decision and seeking to overturn the governments decision to hike entry fees at launch terminals across the country. The BIWTA authority had on September 30 issued a notification increasing the entry fee for each person at the building (Paka) terminal from Tk 5 to Tk 10 and at the tin-shed terminals from Tk 3 to Tk 5. The authority can increase the entry fees under the BIWTA Ordinance 1958. However, the government did not formulate any law under the ordinance before hiking the entry fees. Therefore, he said, the decision to increase entry fees at launch terminals is illegal. Advocate Abu Taleb moved on behalf of his petition while Deputy Attorney General Abdullah Al Mahmud Bashar represented the state during yesterdays proceedings.