The High Court on Wednesday issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain why directives should not be given to install fire extinguishing systems in all types of public and private vehicles.
Justice FRM NazmulAhasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader issued the rule following a writ petition filed as public interest litigation.
The secretaries for the road transport and highways division and the home ministry, the chairman of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), the director general of fire service and civil defence, and the inspector general of police have all been made respondents to the rule.
Advocate Abul Barakat Mohammad Sazzad and Al Bari Sohel, filed the writ based on newspaper reports of various vehicular fire incidents.
According to the reports, at least eight people were injured when a fire broke out in a Gabtoli-bound bus in Dhanmondi from a leaking gas line on February 20.
On January 5, 2018, a fire broke out on a Raida Paribahan bus in the Farmgate area, following a gas balloon explosion which left 12 passengers injured.
At least 15 people were injured in a fire on a BRTC bus in Savar on June 24, 2017.
Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) issued an order on March 2, 2017, requiring fire extinguishers in vehicles as per Motor Vehicles Ordinance 1983, when issuing route permits for buses and minibuses.
But there is no implementation of the order, said the lawyers.
