Staff Reporter :
The High Court on Monday issued a rule upon the respondents to explain as to why the gazette notification that cancelled the freedom fighter status of 47 members of Bangladesh Air Force should not be declared illegal.
Ministry of Liberation War and other respondents have been asked to comply with the rule within four weeks.
The HC Bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Md Khairul Alam passed the order after holding hearing on a writ petition filed by Md Shamsul Alam, a civil official of the Air Force, challenging the legality of the government decision.
At the same time, the High Court stayed the effectiveness of the notification in case of the petitioner for six months and asked the respondents to give him all benefits as freedom fighter, said Barrister Toufiq Inam, a Counsel for the writ petitioner.
The court also stayed another notification issued on July 27 this year asking the Air Force officials to apply again for proofing themselves as freedom fighters, added the lawyer.
The 47 Air Force members were among the total 1181 persons whose freedom fighters’ status was cancelled by the Liberation War Affairs Ministry on June 7 last year following Jatiya Muktijoddha Council’s 66th meeting held on December 10, 2019.
The lawyer said that the HC stayed the effectiveness of the government notification that cancelled the freedom fighter status of his client as the government has taken the decision without giving him any scope for defending himself.
The High Court on Monday issued a rule upon the respondents to explain as to why the gazette notification that cancelled the freedom fighter status of 47 members of Bangladesh Air Force should not be declared illegal.
Ministry of Liberation War and other respondents have been asked to comply with the rule within four weeks.
The HC Bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Md Khairul Alam passed the order after holding hearing on a writ petition filed by Md Shamsul Alam, a civil official of the Air Force, challenging the legality of the government decision.
At the same time, the High Court stayed the effectiveness of the notification in case of the petitioner for six months and asked the respondents to give him all benefits as freedom fighter, said Barrister Toufiq Inam, a Counsel for the writ petitioner.
The court also stayed another notification issued on July 27 this year asking the Air Force officials to apply again for proofing themselves as freedom fighters, added the lawyer.
The 47 Air Force members were among the total 1181 persons whose freedom fighters’ status was cancelled by the Liberation War Affairs Ministry on June 7 last year following Jatiya Muktijoddha Council’s 66th meeting held on December 10, 2019.
The lawyer said that the HC stayed the effectiveness of the government notification that cancelled the freedom fighter status of his client as the government has taken the decision without giving him any scope for defending himself.
