High Court directs TCB to continue selling goods at upazila level

The High Court has directed the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) to continue selling essential commodities including rice, pulses and oil at upazila level until the coronavirus situation in the country improves.

A virtual bench of the High Court led by Justice JBM Hassan issued the order on Thursday.

Barrister Humayun Kabir Pallab represented the writ petitioner during the hearing while Barrister Taposh Kanti Bol represented the Ministry of Commerce. Deputy Attorney General Samarendranath Biswas was present at the hearing on behalf of the state.

Earlier, on June 3, the High Court had directed the TCB to take steps to sell products at upazila level rather than restricting its sales within the city corporations and the municipality areas.

At the same time, the court directed the secretary of the commerce ministry and the TCB chairman to implement the directives within seven days.

Following the court order, the government decided to sell goods through the TCB at upazila level till June 18.

During the follow-up hearing on the implementation of the order, the High Court, in response to the petition filed by the petitioner's lawyer, ordered the authorities concerned to continue selling goods till the coronavirus crisis is over.

On May 16, Barrister Md Humayun Kabir Pallab filed the writ petition on behalf of "Law and Life Foundation" by sending an email to the concerned bench at the High Court.

The writ petition was filed against the principal secretary to the Prime Minister's Office, secretary of the commerce ministry and the chairman of TCB.

Before the writ petition was filed, a legal notice was sent to the authorities concerned to take action in this regard. The lawyer filed the writ petition afterwards when they did not take any action in this regard.