The High Court has issued a ruling upon the authorities concerned asking why three hospitals should not be directed to take measures to make the hospitals' premises tobacco free.
The hospitals are Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital, Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital and Government Staff Hospital.
The court also directed the hospitals' authorities to submit a report in this regard within four weeks.
An HC bench of Justice Salma Masud Chowdhury and Justice Zafar Ahmed passed the order following a writ petition jointly lodged by four organisations on June 8.
The petitioners — Dhaka Ahsania Mission, UBINIG, Environment Council Bangladesh and PROGGA-- filed the petition as the three hospitals' authorities did not respond to their legal notices that demanded tobacco free hospital premises.
Monzur Alam, a lawyer of the petitioners, confirmed the Dhaka Tribune about the court’s order.
Earlier on May 8, the authorities of all capital hospitals were served legal notices.
All the hospitals, except the three, have responded to the leagel notices and agreed to consider the matter seriously, said Monzur.
The plea contained several reports of World Health Organisation and media reports.