HC gives NBR 2 weeks to install fruit-testing units at land ports
STAFF REPORTER, Dhaka
The High Court (HC) yesterday (Tuesday) gave two weeks time to the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to inform it about the progress of implementing its earlier order, that had asked the NBR authorities to buy and install machines at land ports across the country to examine whether imported fruits are free of chemicals. An HC bench, comprising Justice FRM Nazmul Ahsan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader, came up with the order after receiving a report submitted by the NBR on the matter. On June 23, the HC bench asked the NBR to inform it about the latest status of a previous order regarding the buying and installing of machines at land ports. On July 15, 2014, an HC bench released the copy of the full order of February 29, 2012, that directed the NBR to buy and install machines at every land port. The HC bench came up with the verdict following a writ petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh, seeking directives to ask the government to stop the use of chemicals in fruits.
The HC, in its directives, asked government agencies to prepare a guideline to stop the use of chemicals to ripen fruits within six months, and circulate it among field-level administrations. The HC bench also kept the case as mandamus so that it could give necessary directives at any time when needed.
But the NBR authorities are yet to buy machines in line with the HC directive, despite the lapse of more than seven years since the order of February 29, 2012.
