Engage law enforcers to ensure quarantine
The High Court yesterday directed the civil aviation and tourism ministry to hand over all overseas returnees to law enforcing agencies -- to keep them in quarantine for up to 14 days on their arrival, to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
In response to a writ petition, the court ordered the home ministry to deploy law enforcing personnel to escort overseas returnees to hospitals or quarantine facilities, for keeping them under quarantine upon their arrival, as arranged by the health ministry.
The health ministry was directed to impart necessary medical tests and treatment to overseas returnees soon after their arrival at hospitals or quarantine facilities for up to 14 days, or longer periods if anyone is found infected with coronavirus.
The HC ordered the cabinet secretary to ask deputy commissioners concerned to monitor treatment and welfare of overseas returnees in quarantine at district levels.
The health secretary was directed to provide particulars of overseas returnees it kept in quarantine, of the treatment provided to infected persons, and release of non-infected returnees before the court on April 16 through affidavit.
The court also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned of the government to explain in two weeks why they should not be directed to ensure compliance of 14 days' compulsory say in quarantine of overseas returnees upon arrival through land, sea and air ports at all the nearest hospitals, and quarantine facilities designated by the health ministry.
In the rule, it asked the cabinet secretary to show cause why he should not be ordered to provide all basic needs and amenties for returnees, by instructing respective deputy commissioners during the period of quarantine, and distancing them from friends and family.
The HC bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Mohi Uddin Shamim came up with the order and rule, following a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Eunus Ali Akond on March 15, seeking necessary order on authorities to close all land, sea and air ports and borders across the country to prevent spread of coronavirus.
Advocate Akond himself moved the petition while Barrister Khondaker Reza-E-Rabbi placed opinions as amicus curiae (friend of court), and Deputy Attorney General Nowroz MR Chowdhury represented the state during the hearing.
Meanwhile yesterday, three Supreme Court lawyers sent an application to President Md Abdul Hmaid, requesting him to declare emergency in order to ensure human bio-security threatened by the outbreak of coronavirus.
The lawyers also submitted a c copy of the application to the office of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her consideration.
Advocate Mohammad Shishir Manir, Advocate Md Asad Uddin and Advocate Md Zobaidur Rahman served the application, saying a proclamation of emergency will unlock a greater array of tools to government service providers to treat coronavirus patients and contain the disease.
"Therefore, you are hereby requested to issue a proclamation of emergency under Article 141A of the constitution in order to ensure human bio security threatened by the outbreak of novel coronavirus," the lawyers said in the application.
They also stated in the application that many countries including USA, Italy, Malaysia, Spain, Belgium are in complete lockdown and some countries like USA, Italy, Spain, Australia, Libya, Ukraine, Colombia and Canada have declared state of emergency and provincial emergency to tackle this outbreak.
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