A writ petition has been filed with the High Court seeking its directive on authorities concerned to defer the date of MBBS admission tests from the scheduled date of April 2 due to the ongoing surge of Covid-19 infections.

Md Taymur Khan Bappi, a citizen from Jhalokathi, submitted the petition as a public interest litigation to the HC on Sunday seeking its order on authorities to hold the MBBS admission examination once the pandemic situation gets better, in line with tests of other universities.

In the petition, he also requested the court to issue a rule asking authorities to show cause as to why the decision taken by the Directorate General of Medical Education for holding the MBBS exam on April 2 amidst the rise of Covid-19 infections, risking the lives of students and parents, should not be declared illegal.

Citing the petition, its counsel Muntasir Mahmud Rahman told The Daily Star that the arbitrary and indiscriminate decision for holding the tests during this situation will expose students and parents to high risk of getting infected.

Besides, if the medical admission test is taken ahead of those of other universities, then in addition to huge health risks it will also create a huge gap and vacuum in the subjects since many students migrate to other preferred subjects, the lawyer said.

He also said the HC may hear the petition any day this week.