The High Court on Wednesday issued a rule asking the government to explain why order should not be given to settle the definition of freedom fighter before publishing its final list.
After a preliminary hearing on a public interest litigation (PIL) writ petition, questioning the government’s move in this regard, a vacation HC division bench, comprising Justice Mirza Hussain Haider and Justice Khizir Ahmed Choudhury passed the order.
The rule was made returnable in four weeks, said the court order.
Among others, the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs and Law Secretary have been made respondents to the rule.
A group of freedom fighters filed the PIL writ petition as the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs decided to publish the final list without determining the definition of the freedom fighter.
According to the petition, all the successive governments had published several lists of the freedom fighters sans any definition of the Liberation War hero resulting in controversy over the lists. Even some fake freedom fighters got their names on the lists while many genuine freedom fighters were dropped from those, said the petition.
Dr Rafiqur Rahman assisted by Hasnat Qayyum appeared for the PIL writ petitioners while deputy attorney general Al Ameen stood for the government.
