4 secretaries, Rajuk chief face contempt rule

The High Court on Tuesday issued a contempt of court rule against four secretaries and Rajuk chairman for not implementing its directives for establishing a National Building Code Enforcement Authority to ensure the health and safety of construction workers.

In the rule, the court asked the five to explain in two weeks why they should not be prosecuted for committing contempt of court by failing to comply with the directives issued in 2010.

The five are Housing and Public Works Secretary Khondker Shawkat Hossain, Labour and Employment Secretary Mikail Shipar, Industries Secretary Mohammad Moinuddin Abdullah, Forests and Environment Secretary Shafiqur Rahman and Rajuk Chairman Nurul Huda.

The HC came up with the rule following a contempt of court petition jointly filed by rights organisations Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (Blast) and Safety and Rights Society (SRS) on May 27, saying that the officials have not implemented the HC directives, although they are aware of those.

In October 2010, the HC directed the government to establish a National Building Code Enforcement Authority within a year under the provisions of Bangladesh National Building Code.

It had ordered them to assign within three months the Rajuk, Chittagong Development Authority, Khulna Development Authority and Rajshahi Development Authority, Barisal City Corporation and Sylhet City Corporation to work as the code enforcement agency until the National Building Code Enforcement Authority is established, and to submit reports on the progress in this regard in every three months to this court.

Barrister Tanim Hussain Shawon and Barrister Arafat Hossain Khan appeared for the petitioners.