Jumbangla Desk: The Chamber Court of the Appellate Division has ordered to maintain the status quo for one month following the order of the High Court to stop or impose restrictions on the movement of battery-powered auto-rickshaws on the roads of Dhaka metropolitan area within three days.

Hearing the application made by the government seeking suspension of the order of the High Court, the Chamber Justice of the Appellate Division said on Monday. Rezaul Haque gave this order. As a result, battery-powered auto-rickshaws will be able to ply on the roads of Dhaka metropolitan area for the time being, say the concerned lawyers.

Earlier, on November 19, the High Court gave an order along with the preliminary hearing of a writ. The order ordered to stop or impose restrictions on the movement of battery-powered auto-rickshaws on the roads of Dhaka metropolitan area within three days. This order was given to the defendants including Home Secretary, Inspector General of Police, Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka, Administrator of two City Corporations, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner.

The government filed an application in the Appellate Division on Sunday seeking suspension of this order. The application came up for hearing in the Appellate Division Chamber today.

Attorney General Md. heard the state in the court. Asaduzzaman. Advocate HM Sanjeed Siddiqui appeared for the writ petitioners.

A writ was issued on October 27 challenging the inaction in stopping or restricting the movement of battery-powered auto-rickshaws in Dhaka city. Greater Dhaka City Corporation Rickshaw Owners Association president Zahirul Islam and general secretary Md. Momin Ali filed this writ as the petitioner. On November 19, the High Court gave that order along with the preliminary hearing of the writ.

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The rule sought to know why the inaction by stopping or imposing restrictions on the movement of battery-powered auto-rickshaws on the roads of the Dhaka metropolitan area should not be declared beyond legal authority. The ruling also sought to know why appropriate legal action should not be taken by cutting off the illegal electricity connection for battery charging of these autorickshaws. Home Secretary, Inspector General of Police, Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka, two City Corporation Administrators, Metropolitan Police Commissioner and the defendants were asked to respond to the ruling within four weeks. -First light