Writ challenges fees for entering river port terminals

A writ has been filed with the High Court challenging the legality of the decision fixing fees for entering river port terminals across the country. 

The hearing of the writ is likely to be held on Tuesday at the bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader.

Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Abu Taleb filed the writ petition on October 26.

Shipping and finance secretaries, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) chairman, its secretary, director (Finance), deputy director (port) and Dhaka River Port (Sadarghat) joint director were made respondents to the writ.  

The petitioner said an official notification was issued on September 15 fixing Tk 10 as fees for entering Barishal, Chandpur, Khulna, Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Patuakhali, Barguna and Bhola river ports while Tk 5 for Aricha, Ashuganj-Bhairab Bazar, Daulatdia, Nagarbari, Kazihat, Naradah, Tongi, Cox’s Bazar, Charjanaja, Meghnaghat, Mirkadim, Chhatak, Ghorashal, Faridpur, Chilmari and others river ports.

He said the BIWTA authorities cannot collect any fee for entry into at the port terminals as per the Inland Water Authority Ordinance-1958, 19 (2) (cc). “It’s against the constitution.”