DHAKA: The High Court (HC) issued a rule asking the government to explain within four weeks why its inaction to rescue trafficked Bangladeshis should not be declared unconstitutional.

The court also ordered the government to submit a report within four weeks on the measures taken for rescuing the victims adrift at sea.

The HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Kazi Izarul Haque passed the order on Sunday in response to writ petition.

The court also asked the government to explain ‘why it should not be ordered to try and punish the human traffickers under the Human Trafficking Deterrence and Suppression Act 2012’. 

Home affairs secretary, law secretary, foreign secretary, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and Teknaf Thana Officer-in-Charge (OC) were made respondent to the rule.

Earlier on May 25, National Forum for Protection and Human Rights filed a writ petition in this regard.

Advocate Tazul Islam moved for the petitioner when deputy attorney general Amatul Karim for the state.

BDST: 2000 HRS, MAY 31, 2015
BD/RS/SMS