HC screening order not for all passengers

The High Court on Monday had actually ordered to take steps for Ebola screening of air passengers coming from Ebola affected countries only.
The order had come in response to a writ petition filed by a Supreme Court lawyer who reportedly misinformed the media that day.
Petitioner Eunus Ali Akond on that day had told the media that a High Court bench ordered the government to screen all incoming passengers at all international ports and border areas with the help of armed forces.
The High Court bench yesterday summoned Eunus before it on October 26 to explain as to why he misinformed the media about its order and explain his conduct.
Deputy Attorney General Mokhlesur Rahman said the bench on Tuesday had asked Eunus to appear before it yesterday, but he did not show up. Eunus was unreachable despite repeated attempts over his mobile phone.
A copy of Monday's order, which had not been signed, shows that the court had ordered the government to take necessary steps with the help of armed forces at international ports and all border areas for identification of Ebola infection among air passengers whose journey began from or included a stop in the Ebola affected African countries.

The HC bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Md Zahangir Hossain had also directed the authorities concerned to report the court of the measures taken.
It also issued a rule upon the government to show cause as to why it should not be directed to take necessary steps to stop Ebola outbreak in Bangladesh and help those already infected by the virus.
Meanwhile, following a separate writ petition another bench yesterday ordered the government to deploy monitoring and medical teams at all international ports and land border to identify incoming Ebola infected persons and treat them, if there is any, at designated hospitals.
The government was asked to immediately collect necessary testing or detecting equipment and medicine for Ebola infected people and the finance ministry was ordered to provide enough funds for the purpose.
The bench of Justice Mirza Hussain Haider and Justice Md Ataur Rahman Khan also asked the government to conduct medical checkup of six people, who reportedly returned to Bangladesh from Ebola affected Liberia recently and ensure their treatment, if found infected with the virus.
After complying with the order, the government has to submit a report before the court in two weeks, petitioner's lawyer Manzill Murshid told The Daily Star.