Plying of unfit vessels on Teknaf-St Martin route: HC issues rule over inaction

The High Court on Tuesday issued a rule upon the concerned bodies of the government to explain as to why the inaction of the respondents in stopping the plying of the unfit and unregistered vessels on the Saint Martin route from Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar should not be declared illegal.

The High Court bench of Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice Md Atabullah issued the rule after hearing a writ petition filed by Anwar Hossain Chowdhury, a resident of Rampura area in the capital.

The High Court bench at the same time directed the authorities concerned to conduct an inquiry into all the unfit and unregistered boats and vessels plying on the Teknaf-Saint Martin route and submit a report in this court within 90 days.

The Director General of the Department of Shipping, BIWTA and other respondents have been asked to comply with the High Court order.

Anwar Hossain Chowdhury filed the writ petition on November 25 this year seeking HC directives upon the government bodies to stop unfit and unregistered vessels plying on the waterway. He annexed a newspaper report published in this regard with the petition.

Lawyer Jausna Perveen appeared in the court hearing on behalf of the writ petitioner.

According to the published report, “A few ships are running at risk on the Saint Martin route from Teknaf. There is a possibility that these vessels may be sunk in the Bay of Bengal near the border area of Myanmar due to violation of rules. Due to this, people are at risk of losing their lives during the tourist season.

There are allegations that two unseaworthy vessels have been plying the route for the past two years. These ships do not have a Bay Crossing Certificate or Sea Line Crossing Certificate. Although these ships are allowed to ply only on rivers, a group of unscrupulous people have been operating these ships in turbulent seas like the Bay of Bengal, hoping to earn more by hiring them at low rates.”

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