Make sure public can move normally during truck strike on Oct 12, 13: HC

The High Court today directed the authorities concerned of the government to take necessary steps making sure movement of people and public transport is not affected during the truck and covered van strike on October 12 and 13.

The court also ordered the authorities to submit a report to this court in two weeks after complying with the directive.

The HC bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Mohi Uddin Shamim came up with the order after a writ petition was filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) seeking necessary directives on this issue.

Petitioner's lawyer Manzill Murshid told The Daily Star that a group of truck owners built a truck stand on land that is part of Turag River at Harirampur mouja under Darus Salam Police Station by filling Earth and dumping waste.

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) evicted the structure in line with the earlier HC directive issued in 2009 in a river related case.  The truck owners occupied the place again.

On August 26 this year a mobile court under the BIWTA evicted the illegal occupation and auctioned away the goods.

As such, the truck and covered van workers recently called a countrywide strike on October 12 and 13, Manzill Murshid said.

The HC bench also observed that this strike in protest of actions of the mobile court drives is an attack and insult to the court, the lawyer said.

Deputy Attorney General Nawroz MR Chowdhury represented the state during the hearing.