The High Court today issued a rule asking the government to explain in two weeks why the health ministry should not be directed to instruct all the hospitals and clinics to provide primary treatment to the accident victims.

In response to a writ petition, the HC issued the rule also asking the respondents to show causes why they were inactive to protect the lives of Md Ibrahim of Khulna and Helena Begum of Barisal, who were injured by the muggers and later died in Dhaka.  

The petitioner said that Ibrahim sustained severe injuries with a knife attack by the muggers at Sayedabad area on January 26. He was rushed to Salahuddin Specialised Hospital at Tikatuli in the capital.

But, the hospital authorities refused to provide him with the first aid and advised to send him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Ibrahim died on the way to DMCH the same day, according to the petition.

In another incident the same day, criminals who were in a car attempted to snatch Helena Begum's handbag in Dhanmondi, dragging her 200 yards. Eventually, she was crushed to death under the wheels.

Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh has submitted the writ petition to the HC as a public interest litigation yesterday and submitted the newspaper reports on the two incidents.

The organisation prayed to the HC to pass necessary orders on the respondents to take steps for providing treatment to the accident-injured patients and to protect the lives of people.

Health secretary, home secretary, inspector general of police, additional secretary (hospital) to health ministry, director general of the directorate of health services, Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council, commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, officers-in-charge of Gendaria, Jatrabari, Dhanmondi and Wari police stations and Salahuddin Specialised Ltd have been made respondents to the rule.

The bench of Justice Syed Muhammad Dastagir Husain and Justice Md Ataur Rahman Khan came up with the rule after hearing the writ petition moved by Advocate Manzill Murshid.

The lawyer told the HC that protection of right to life is a fundamental right as per the constitution.

The authorities concerned of the hospitals and clinics are bound to provide treatment to the people if they are injured in the accidents including snatching, he said, adding that it is seen in most of the cases that nearest hospitals and clinics refused to give treatment to such patients.

Advocate Manzill Murshid argued that the government has not done any discrimination in issuing license to those hospitals and clinic.

Even, many accident victims die as they are not given treatment quickly at such hospitals, which amounts to violation of human rights, he added.