Dhaka-The High Court on Wednesday asked the authorities concerned to formulate a law prohibiting the carrying of schoolbag weighing more than 10 percent of the weight of a primary school student.An HC bench, comprising Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Ashish Ranjan Das, passed the order following a writ petition. It also asked the government to formulate the law within six months of having the verdict copy.
The HC asked the Director General of the Directorate of Primary Education to ensure the carrying of schoolbag weighing 10 percent of the student’s weight. It also asked for taking necessary steps against the violation of the order.
The HC instructed the Directorate of Primary Education to issue a notification in this regard within a month.
Masud Hossain Dolon, a lawyer of the petitioner, said carrying heavy schoolbags is injurious to the health of primary level students. The court asked the government to formulate a law in this regard. The Primary and Mass Education Secretary and the Director General Directorate of Primary Education will implement the court order.
Three lawyers of the Supreme Court — SM Masud Hossain Dolon, Ziaul Haq and Anwarul Karim — filed a writ petition after placing a report of a vernacular daily on the effects of carrying heavy schoolbags by students on August 9, 2015.
On August 11, 2015, the High Court issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain as to why the government should not be directed to formulate a law over prohibiting carrying of schoolbag weighing more than 10 percent of a student’s weight.
