Suitability of ships: HC requests Ministry of Maritime Transport and BIWTA to submit reports

The High Court today requested all investigation reports into the deadly fire from the MV Abhijan-10 launch and also requested the list of victims killed and injured in the incident.

The Ministry of Maritime Transport and the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) have also been ordered to submit status reports on launches and vessels plying the country within 90 days.

In his observation, the HC said the relevant officials, who authorized the launch of the MV Abhijan-10 without examining its suitability, should have been arrested sooner.

In response to two separate written requests, the HC ordered the Ministry of Transport and BIWTA to submit the investigation reports to him within 30 days.

The HC ordered district administrations to immediately provide the necessary financial assistance if the victims of the fire requested it.

The court also issued a rule asking relevant government officials to explain why their inaction in taking action to prevent the launch fire should not be declared illegal.

Judge HC M Enayetur Rahim’s bench and Judge Md Mostafizur Rahman proposed the directive and published the rule following two separate written motions filed by Supreme Court attorneys Saumitra Sarder and Md Eunus Ali Akond requesting the necessary guidance on the question.

Lawyer Aneek R Haque represented Saumitra Sarder while lawyer Eunus Ali Akond presented his case and Deputy Attorney General Bepul Bagmar represented the state.

Saumitra Sarder and Eunus Ali Akond filed two separate petitions on Sunday with the HC as public interest litigation asking the relevant authorities to provide adequate compensation to the families of the victims and submit the relevant reports to it.