The HC bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader came up with the order and rule after hearing a writ petition filed by Jahir Uddin Milon, chairman of Legal Support and People’s Rights, in the form of public interest litigation.
Public Administration, Road Transport and Bridges secretaries, Inspector General of Police and BIWTC chairman, among others, were made respondents to the rule.
The court also fixed August 28 for the next hearing.
According to reports published in different national dailies, Titash Ghosh, who was in an ambulance on a ferry, died of haemorrhage on July 25 as the authorities allegedly delayed the departure of a ferry at Kathalbari jetty-1 in Madaripur by three hours for joint secretary Abdus Sabur Mondol.
Titash, 11, a Class-VI student hailing from Kalia municipality in Narail, suffered fatal injuries in a road accident. He was first taken to a Khulna hospital where doctors referred him to Dhaka.
During the hearing, the HC said, “They (joint secretaries) are not VIPs. They’re servants of the state. The law defines who are VIPs are. Especially, any decision can be taken for the President and the Prime Minister for the sake of security.”
It also said ambulances and the vehicles of fire service and police are allowed to move on a priority basis across the world and lamented that the case is totally opposite here.
Deputy Attorney General Barrister Abdullah Al Mahmud Bashar said probe committees have been formed to look into the matter. “The state won’t take the responsibility if any individual is found responsible.”
The Ministry of Shipping on Monday formed a committee to investigate the death of the teenage boy.
The probe body, headed by Joint Secretary Shahnewaz Dilruba Khan, was asked to submit the investigation report within seven working days, said an official release.