DHAKA: The High Court on Monday ordered to ban plying human haulers on highways in five districts of the southern part of the country within 72-hour.

An HC bench comprising Justice Salma Masud Chowdhury and Justice M Khasruzzaman passed the order and also issued a rule upon the government to explain within four weeks.

The districts are Barisal, Faridpur, Madaripur, Rajbari and Khulna.

Advocate Manjil Morshed moved for the writ filed in public interest.

The court asked the authorities concerned to follow ‘Motor Vehicle Ordinance’ to run their vehicles on the highways.

The HC also asked the deputy commissioners and police supers of the respective districts to supervise the order and submit a progress report within two weeks.

According to the rule, the court asked the authorities concerned to explain why these sorts of human haulers—locally known as Nasiman, Kariman and Mahendra and Votvoti--should not be banned.

Home secretary, communications secretary, IGP of police, Deputy IGP (highways), Chairman of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and deputy commissioners were made the respondents to the rule.

On February 10, the HC ordered to ban human haulers locally called as Nasiman, Kariman, Votvoti, etc from highways in ten districts within a week.

The districts include Jessore, Khulna, Jhenidah, Magura, Meherpur, Satkhira, Kushtia, Bagerhat, Narail and Chuadanga.

BDST: 1735 HRS, SEP 15, 2014