A virtual high court bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim has directed to set up a separate hotline called 'ICU Hotline' so that the victims can easily communicate in the ICU management and monitoring cell.

The virtual court, which operates online on My Court on Monday, has set up ICU requisitions and 'central bed bureaus' of private hospitals, introduced separate medical facilities for COVID and general patients in 50-bed public-private hospitals and announced a two-week lockdown in the capital Dhaka. After hearing three writ petitions, the court passed the order with some instructions and opinions.

At the same time, the court also suggested that the ICU hotline numbers be disseminated in different media, especially on television, on a daily basis.

Lawyer Manzil Morshed, lawyer Yadia Zaman, lawyer Jamiul Haque Faisal, and Mehedi Hasan appeared for the writ petitions.

Additional Attorney General Murad Reza, Deputy Attorney General Amit Talukder and Assistant Attorney General Abanti Nurul was present at the hearing on behalf of the state.

During the coronation period, the court gave 10-point instructions on fixing the price of oxygen cylinders, monitoring private hospitals and treating patients in hospitals.

The 10-point directive states that those concerned, including the health secretary, have to submit to the court on June 30 whether the directives issued by the health ministry is being followed properly.

The High Court also said that reluctance to treat critically ill patients in public and private hospitals and the death of a patient in it should be considered as 'negligent death' i.e. a criminal offense. Instructions have also been given to bring those responsible for this under the law.