The High Court on Sunday rejected a writ petition filed seeking its directives on the government to allow people to operate motorcycles on the Padma Bridge.
The High Court bench of Justice Md Khasruzzaman and Justice Md Iqbal Kabir passed the order after hearing the petition.
Lawyer Earul Islam appeared in the court hearing on behalf of the writ petitoner, while Deputy Attorney General Bepul Bagmar represented the state.
KM Abu Hanif Hridoy, President of Bangladesh Republican Party, a political party, submitted the petition as a public interest litigation to the HC last month.
He also challenged the legality of the government decision that on June 26 last year banned motorcycles on the Padma Bridge from June 27. Lawyer Earul Islam said the government decision prohibiting operation of motorcycles on the Padma Bridge has violated Article 36 of the Constitution that ensured people's right to freedom of movement.
The article reads, "Subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the public interest, every citizen shall have the right to move freely throughout Bangladesh, to reside and settle in any place therein and to leave and re-enter Bangladesh."
The bridge division under the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges on June 26 last year banned the operation of motorcycles on the Padma Bridge from 6:00 am on June 27 last year until further notice. Two people were killed in an accident while riding on a motorcycle on the Padma Bridge on June 26 last year, the very day it opened for public.
