Dhaka, June 30 (UNB) –The High Court (HC) on Sunday ordered the authorities concerned to form a committee involving specialists and stakeholders within a month to formulate a guideline within six months, aiming to prevent unnecessary caesarean sections in the country.

The HC bench of Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Md Ashraful Kamal passed the order during a hearing on a writ petition.

The HC issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the ineffectiveness of the defendants to take necessary steps for preventing unnecessary caesarean sections should not be declared illegal.

The Health Secretary, Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and President of the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council have been made respondents to the rule which is returnable in four weeks.

SM RezaulKarim, advisory council of Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), filed a writ petition with the HC seeking its directives to prevent unnecessary caesarean sections in the country. He also attached relevant reports published in different newspapers.

The HC also fixed December 5 for the next hearing.

Barrister Rashna Imam stood for the petitioner.

According to WHO and Unicef reports, about 77 percent of the caesarean sections that took place in Bangladesh last year were unnecessary. Besides, caesarean sections increased by 51 percent between 2016 and 2018, said a report published by BBC on June 21.