The High Court on Monday directed the concerned bodies of the government to take appropriate measures immediately to stop and seize production of all kinds of illegal cigarettes and bidis by the illegal cigarette factories.
The High Court bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed in this regard.
Respondents including the Coordinator of the National Tobacco Control Cell, Director General of the Department of Environment, Chief Inspector of the Boilers and Inspector General of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishment (DIFE) have been asked to comply with the order.
The High Court also issued a rule upon the respondents to explain in four weeks as to why the failure of the respondents to take necessary measures to stop illegal manufacturing and trading of all types of tobacco products mainly cigarette and bidis by the illegal cigarette factories should not be declared illegal.
Executive Director of the Madok Drabya-O-Nesha Birodhi Council (MANOBIK), a voluntary anti-tobacco organization, filed the writ petition recently.
Lawyer Sheikh Rafiqul Islam appeared in the court on behalf of the writ petitioner, while Deputy Attorney General Bepul Bagmar represented the state.
Heritage Tobacco and Tara International Tobacco in Kishoreganj, International Tobacco in Chattogram, Beauty Tobacco in Manikganj, and many other factories are manufacturing cigarettes violating the laws, according to the writ file.
