The high court yesterday imposed a ban on heavy vehicles plying on the Bangabandhu bridge, taking cognisance of a newspaper report.
The bench of justices Kazi Rezaul Haq and ABM Altaf Hossain also ordered the demolition within one week of all illegal shops and establishments built along the bridge, reported UNB.
It also asked the Bridges Division’s chief engineer to submit, within a week, computerised records of how many vehicles have crossed over the bridge from January.
The HC also questioned the toll collecting organisations, Shamim Enterprise and United Development Corporation of Bangladesh, asking them to explain why they were charging fees from vehicles in the parking area ahead of the bridge.
The court also asked Bridges Division secretary and chief engineer, executive director of Bangladesh Bridge Authorities, and the home secretary to show reasons for their inaction to stop illegal plying of heavy vehicles over the bridge.
All the respondents, including the deputy commissioners and superintendents of police of Tangail and Sirajganj and the officer-in-charge of the police station on the west side of the bridge, have been asked to answer within two weeks.
