The High Court asked the government to explain why it should not be directed to take action against Unilever Bangladesh Ltd under the Criminal Procedure of Code (CrPC) for running an advertisement violating the laws of the land. In response to writ petition, the HC bench comprising Justice
Kazi Rezaul Haque and Justice ABM Alataf Hossain issued the rule.Home and Commerce Secretaries, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Officer-in-Charge of Gulshan Police Station, Chairman and Managing Director of Unilever Bangladesh Ltd have been made respondents to reply to the rule within two weeks.
Advocate Md Abdul Matin and Md Asaduzzaman filed the petition as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking HC directive in this regard.
According to petition section 294 (B) of the Penal Code, no company could run advertisement in the media alluring people to buy their products. But, Unilever Bangladesh Ltd has been running an advertisement in the media alluring people to get diamond locket by buying LUX, the petition said.
After the hearing on the petition, the HC issued the rule on July 7, Advocate Towhidul Islam told reporters on Tuesday.
-With The Independent input