The Crime Desk: The High Court has ordered not to collect tolls from fire service vehicles in the case of movement on expressways, highways, important bridges, ferries, and roads. At the same time, the court issued a ruling seeking to know why taking a toll on fire service vehicles should not be declared illegal.
In the preliminary hearing of a writ application made in this regard, the bench consisting of Justice Mostafa Zaman Islam and Justice Masud Hossain Dolan of the High Court gave this order on Monday.
Supreme Court lawyer Mohammad Monir Uddin heard the writ petition in court. He confirmed this order. He also said that he filed the writ on May 7 in the public interest.
It is known that before crossing the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel, Bangabandhu Bridge, Dhaka Elevated Expressway, Muradpur Bridge in Narayanganj, and the and the Aricha and Paturia ferry, the fire service vehicles need to pay money or collect tickets at certain booths. It is not waived, regardless of the circumstances of the accident.
The Bangladesh Bridge Authority says that the instructions of the service providers to keep vehicles free from the toll are bound to be obeyed. However, the bridge authorities could not say why it was not accepted.
Fire service officials say, as a service-providing government institution, it is nothing but suffering if the government has to pay the toll. The time spent paying the toll increases the loss of life and property.
In this case, the Bangabandhu Tunnel Authority has taken different initiatives, but there is still no good news. The Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel Authority has announced a toll waiver for emergency vehicles during emergency duties or operational activities. As a result, police, fire service, and navy vehicles will be able to move without toll in the tunnel in case of emergency.
Last April 17, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman tunnel supervising engineer Md. Abul Kalam Azad announced this decision in a meeting on’safety and security’ at the tunnel site office at Patenga in the city.
