The High Court has suspended for one month the implementation of the Chittagong Port Authority鈥檚 decision to collect increased tariffs, which was set to take effect following a circular issued on September 30.
The High Court bench of Justice Qazi Zinat Haque and Justice Ainun Nahar Siddiqa passed the order along with a rule on Sunday after hearing a writ petition filed by the Bangladesh Maritime Law Society challenging the legality of the decision.
The court also issued a rule asking why the September 14 gazette and the September 30 circular should not be declared as issued without legal authority.
Lawyer Mohiuddin Abdul Quader moved the writ petition on behalf of the petitioner, while Deputy Attorney General Noor Muhammad Azmi represented the state.
According to the gazette published on September 14, the Chittagong Port Authority increased various service charges by an average of 41 percent, with the highest rise in container transport tolls.
The subsequent circular on September 30 announced that the new rates would come into effect on October 15.
Following Sunday鈥檚 order, petitioner鈥檚 lawyer Mohiuddin Abdul Quader said the court had suspended the implementation of the circular for one month, meaning the increased tariffs cannot be collected during this period.
Deputy attorney general Noor Muhammad Azmi said the state would file an appeal with the Appellate Division against the High Court鈥檚 order.
