HC orders testing of Ctg Wasa water

The High Court has ordered to examine the Wasa water of Chittagong for Hepatitis E virus in purview of jaundice outbreak at the port city.

The health secretary has been asked to form the committee that will examine the water and submit the test report within 90 days.

The HC also issued a rule asking the respondents to explain why they should not be directed to give compensation to the jaundice affected people.

In the rule, the HC asked them to show cause as to why they should not be directed to supply bacteria free water to the residents of Chittagong City Corporation (CCC).

Health secretary, director general of directorate of health services, chairman of Chittagong Wasa, civil surgeon of Chittagong, CCC mayor and its chief executive officer have been made respondents to the rule.

The HC fixed October 18 for holding hearing on the rule, Deputy Attorney General Ekramul Haque told The Daily Star.

The bench of Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Md Ashraful Kamal came up with the order and rule following a writ petition filed by Barrister Mohiuddin Md Hanif (Farhad), a Supreme Court lawyer, seeking necessary orders to this effect.

He submitted the writ petition to the HC on July 2 based on the reports published in different newspapers including The Daily Star on the incident of peoples’ being affected by Hepatitis E virus.

According to The Daily Star report published on June 26, an outbreak of Hepatitis E virus in Chittagong city's Halishahar and Agrabad areas for the last three months has put the lives of the residents at high risk.

According to sources in the area, at least three people died in the last week since June 17, while over 300 people have been affected in the last three months.

Dr SM Ali Haider, assistant professor of Gastroenterology of Chittagong Medical College Hospital, told the newspaper that people are infected by Hepatitis E virus through water and food.