Dhaka: The High Court on Tuesday asked the authorities concerned to take immediate measures to stop operation of 14 private hospitals and diagnostic centres in city’s Mohammadpur area for not having license.

An HC bench of Justice Sheikh Hassan Arif and Justice Ahmed Sohel passed the order after hearing a writ petition.

Advocate Manzil Murshid stood for the petitioner while deputy attorney general Mokhlesur Rahman represented the state.

The HC asked the Director General of The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and executive magistrate of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) to implement the order.

Advocate Manzil Murshid said a report of running hospitals without licence, located on Babar Road and Khijir Road in city’s Mohammadpur area was published in a newspaper in April which is illegal and runs hospitals without licence is a punishable act.

On September 9, Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh filed a writ petition attaching the report with the title ‘14 hospitals and diagnostic centres  out of 25 in 500 meter area are running without passport’, he said.

The 14 hospitals and diagnostic centres  are-BDM Hospital and diagnostic, Shebika General Hospital, Jonosheba Nursing Home and diagnostic Center, Life Care Nursing Home, Royal Multi Specialist Hospital Nawab Siraj-ud-Doulla Mental and Drug Addiction Hospital, Manmita Mental hospital, Plasma Service and Clinic, Shefa Hospital and Diagnostic Center, Islamia Mental Hospital, Crescent Hospital and Diagnostic Center, Makka Madina General hospital and Diagnostic, New Well Care Hospital and Bangladesh Trauma Specialised Hospital.

The HC also issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the functioning of hospitals which were running without licence should not be declared illegal and why action should not be taken against those who are involved in running the hospitals without licence.

Secretary to the Health Ministry, Director General of The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Police Commissioner, Officer-in-Charge of Mohamamdpur Police Station and executive magistrate of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and four others have been made respondent to the rule which is returnable in four weeks.