Writ seeks HC directive on lockdown of entire Dhaka city

A Supreme Court lawyer today filed a writ petition with the High Court asking that the government be asked to immediately lockdown the entire Dhaka city.

It also asked the order exclude parliament functions and other necessary operations for at least two weeks in order to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

Advocate Mahbubul Islam submitted the petition as a public interest litigation through email to the HC.

In the petition, he requested the HC to order the authorities concerned to ensure that city dwellers stay home, and that food and medicine is provided to poor people through local representatives during the pandemic.

It also asked that the authorities concerned procure within a period of one week sufficient quantities of "High Flow Nasal Oxygen Cannula" as per the recommendation of the National Technical Advisory Committee (NTAC) to save the lives of the coronavirus patients.

Mahbubul Islam also urged the HC to pass an order on the government to arrange a fixed hospital for the treatment of health workers as per the recommendation of the NTAC within seven days and file a compliance report to this court.

Petitioner's lawyer Advocate Manzill Murshid told The Daily Star that the HC may hold an online hearing on the writ petition on Sunday.