HC rule on installing fire extinguishers in public vehicles

The High Court today directed the government to explain in four weeks why it should not be directed to take steps for installing fire extinguishers in all public vehicles to prevent fire accidents.

Secretaries of road transport and highway division and home ministry, chairman of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), director general of fire service and civil defence and inspector general of police have been made respondents to the rules.

The HC bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader came up with the rule following a writ petition filed by Advocate Abul Barakat Md Sazzad Al Bari Sohel.

Advocate Sohel submitted the writ petition recently as a public interest litigation seeking necessary order from the HC on the respondents to take steps so that fire extinguishers are installed in all vehicles.

He annexed reports of different news papers including The Daily Star saying that many people have been killed and injured in fire incidents as the vehicles had no fire extinguishers.

Advocate Sayed Misbaul Anwar appeared for the writ petitioner.