Govt officials yet to inform HC
The government officials concerned are yet to inform the High Court (HC) of the stock of soybean oil and its price, although the court had earlier directed them to submit reports on it to find reasons behind soaring prices of the oil. The HC in its November 28 order last year asked the officials concerned to submit separate reports on the quantity and price of soybean oil in four weeks. Following the inaction of the officials, the HC yesterday asked National Board of Revenue (NBR) chairman to submit a report by August 16 on how much soybean oil had been imported in the past six months since December last and what its price was.
It passed the order during hearing of a rule issued by it on November 28 asking the government officials concerned to explain why their inaction in taking effective measures to prevent the skyrocketing of soybean oil price should not be declared illegal.
The court on the same day also directed chairman of Trading Corporation of Bangladesh, chief controller of Export and Import, chairman of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), director general of National Consumer Protection Directorate (NCPD) to submit separate reports in four weeks on the quantity and price of soybean oil imported in the last six months.
The rule was issued following a writ petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) challenging the legality of price hike of soybean oil by a section of dishonest businessmen and traders.
The HC bench of AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik and Justice Gobinda Chandra Tagore yesterday ordered the NBR to submit the report after the CPA chairman told the court that the NBR is the authority to collect the price of imported soybean oil.
CPA Chairman Commodore Anwarul Islam, TCB Chairman Brigadier Sarwar Jahan, Chief Controller of Export and Import MA Sabur and NCPD director general Abul Hossain Miah appeared before it yesterday as per another HC order on the rule on July 24.
The court also ordered Anwarul Islam, MA Sabur and Abul Hossain to further appear before it tomorrow to explain their failure in writing, Manzill Murshid, counsel for HRPB, told The Daily Star.
It, however, exempted the CPA chairman from personal appearance, as he apologised to the court.
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