TDS Desk

The High Court (HC) on December 15 issued a rule asking why the government’s decision to restrict travel to Saint Martin’s Island will not be declared illegal.

The HC has asked the environment secretary, the director general of Department of Environment (DoE) and the deputy commissioner of Cox’s Bazar to respond to the rule within four weeks.

The HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debasish Roy issued the rule after a hearing on a writ filed by a resident of Saint Martin’s Island.

Lawyers Md Amir Hossain and Ujjal Hossain stood for the petitioner in the court.

Talking to journalists after the hearing, Amir said, “The government had put restrictions on travel to Saint Martin’s Island, which was widely reported in the media. Challenging this decision, a writ had been filed with the HC attaching news reports on this issue. The HC has issued the rule following an application on this petition.”

Earlier on 28 October, the environment, forest and climate change ministry issued an office order limiting travel to Saint Martin’s Island to control unchecked tourism and use of single-use plastic on the island.

Challenging this decision, Cox’s Bazar Citizen’s Forum President ANM Helal Uddin filed the writ on 21 November.