The Daily Morning Voice Online Desk: The High Court today rejected a writ petition that sought its directive on the government to allow people to operate motorcycles over the Padma Bridge. The HC bench of Justice M Khasruzzaman and Justice Md Iqbal Kabir Lytton passed the rejection order considering that the petition was not presented properly before it. The court said the government has banned operation of motorcycle on Padma Bridge till further order which is a policy decision and therefore, this court will not interfere into this matter. Petitioner’s lawyer Iarul Islam told that they are yet to decide whether the petition will be moved before another HC bench.

KM Abu Hanif Hridoy, president of Bangladesh Republican Party, a political organisation, submitted the petition as a public interest litigation to the HC on December 12 last year, also challenging the legality of the government decision that on June 26 last year banned plying of motorcycles on the Padma Bridge from June 27.Citing the petition, his lawyer Iarul Islam told The Daily Star that the government decision prohibiting operation of motorcycles on the Padma Bridge has violated article 36 of the constitution that ensured people’s right to freedom of movement. The bridge division under the ministry of road transport and bridges on June 26 last year banned the operation of motorcycles on Padma Bridge from 6am on June 27 last year until further notice. Two people were killed in an accident while riding on a motorcycle on the Padma Bridge on June 26 last year, the very day it opened for public.