Writ seeks ban on leasing BRTC buses to govt offices

A writ petition was filed with the High Court seeking a ban on leasing or renting Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) buses to government ministries and institutions and their deployment for public transport to help ease the country's public transport crisis.

Supreme Court lawyer Md Mahmudul Hasan Mamun filed the petition with the related branch of the High Court as the public interest litigation.

The petition sought HC rule against the respondent to explain why the leasing or renting of BRTC buses to government and autonomous institutions should not be declared illegal and prohibited.

It also sought specific directions to immediately withdraw all BRTC buses currently being used for government transport and reinstate them on regular commercial routes for public passengers.

Speaking to journalists, Mamun said the hearing could take some time as vacation benches are currently conducting proceedings.

The Cabinet secretary, secretaries of the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry and the Finance Division, and the BRTC chairman have been made as respondents in the petition.