Dhaka, Aug. 19 -- The High Court issued a rule on Monday, asking the relevant authorities to explain why the 1.0-percent surcharge collected from mobile-phone users to fund the construction of the Padma Bridge should not be stopped.

The government introduced the surcharge in 2016 under the Development Surcharge and Levy (Imposition and Collection) Act 2015 to raise funds for the Padma Bridge project.

The order was issued by the High Court bench of Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Md Hamidur Rahman after hearing a writ petition filed by a rights organization, Conscious Consumers Society (CCS).

In the rule, the court also requested an explanation from the government authorities as to why their inaction in stopping the surcharge collectio...