HC issues show cause order to authorities

The High Court yesterday asked the health ministry and authorities in Chittagong to show causes on their inaction to supply bacteria-free water to CCC residents, why they should not be directed to provide safe water to the residents, and to explain why they should not be directed to give compensation to jaundice-affected people in the port city.

It also ordered the health ministry to form a committee to examine whether there is Hepatitis-E virus in the Wasa water at the jaundice-affected areas of Chittagong, and to submit the test report to this court.

The health secretary has been asked to form the committee comprising two representatives from local administration of Chittagong and three experts within a month, and to submit the test report to the HC in 90 days.

The health secretary, director general of directorate of health services, chairman of Chittagong Wasa, civil surgeon of Chittagong, Chittagong city  corporation mayor and its chief executive officer have been made respondents to the rule.

The HC fixed October 18 for holding hearing on the rule, Deputy Attorney General Ekramul Haque told The Daily Star.

The bench of Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Md Ashraful Kamal came up with the order and rule, following a writ petition filed by Barrister Mohiuddin Md Hanif, a Supreme Court lawyer, seeking necessary orders to this effect.

Hanif submitted the writ petition to the HC on July 2 based on reports published in different newspapers including The Daily Star, on the incident of people being affected by Hepatitis-E virus.

According to The Daily Star report published on June 26, an outbreak of Hepatitis-E virus in Chittagong city's Halishahar and Agrabad areas for the last three months has put the lives of the residents at high risk. According to sources in the area, at least three people died in one week from June 17.