VIP protocol has been asked from the DC of Khulna for supreme-court Justice Shashanka Shekhar Sarkar, for a trip to his village.

On Thursday (Aug 1), Supreme Court’s deputy registrar (protocol) Md. Abdus Salam gave a letter to the Deputy Commissioner of Khulna asking for the protocol. This was done after the high court said on Jul 31 that apart from the President and the Prime Minister, no one is a VIP. This ruling came following the tragic death of school student Titas, who was held up in an ambulance at the river jetty for a ferry crossing because of the delay of a ‘VIP’ government official.

But the norm of VIP protocol to important persons, including judges has been in practice for a long time. Meanwhile, Khulna district administrator, Mohammad Helal Hossain, has confirmed getting the letter from the supreme-court, requesting VIP protocol.

He says: “I have read about the high court’s order on VIPs from the media but have not received any official order as yet; protocol has been asked as per previous rule; the letter has asked for a VIP room at the Khulna Circuit House and a car on Aug 15, the national day of mourning.”

The trip to Khulna of the justice of the supreme court is a personal one, the DC added.

As per the letter requesting protocol, Justice Shashanka Shekhar Sarkar will start for Khulna from his Dhaka home on Aug 14 and the next day, on Aug 15, will go to his village Gorkhali, in Dakope upazilla.

The letter has asked for a VIP room at the Khulna Circuit House, a VIP flag car with fuel plus police escort.