Staff Reporter :
The High Court on Monday stayed for six months the government decision that cancelled the Freedom Fighter status of 192 retired members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) and also directed the government to give them benefits as Freedom Fighters.
The court also issued rules in this regard asking the respondents to explain in four weeks as to why the decision of scrapping the FF status of the 192 retired BGB and BAF personnel should not be declared illegal.
Liberation War Affairs secretary and director general of Jatiya Muktijoddha Council and director general of directorate of social service have been asked to comply with the rule.
The HC Bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Md Khairul Alam passed the order after hearing five separate writ petitions filed by the 191 retired BGB personnel and one retired BAF member challenging the legality of the government decision.
Barrister Abdul Qaium who appeared in the hearing for the petitioners said that the HC stayed the government orders cancelling the FF status of his clients as the government took the decision without giving them any scope for defending themselves.
They had been included in the gazette notifications of the list of Freedom Fighters after scrutinizing their relevant documents and papers, the lawyer added.
On June 7 this year, the Liberation War Affairs Ministry issued two notifications cancelling Freedom Fighter status of 1134 retired BGB personnel and 47 retired BAF personnel including the 192 writ petitioners on charge of obtaining the status by placing forged documents. The move was reportedly taken following Jatiya Muktijoddha Council’s 66th meeting held on December 10 last year. `
The High Court on Monday stayed for six months the government decision that cancelled the Freedom Fighter status of 192 retired members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) and also directed the government to give them benefits as Freedom Fighters.
The court also issued rules in this regard asking the respondents to explain in four weeks as to why the decision of scrapping the FF status of the 192 retired BGB and BAF personnel should not be declared illegal.
Liberation War Affairs secretary and director general of Jatiya Muktijoddha Council and director general of directorate of social service have been asked to comply with the rule.
The HC Bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Md Khairul Alam passed the order after hearing five separate writ petitions filed by the 191 retired BGB personnel and one retired BAF member challenging the legality of the government decision.
Barrister Abdul Qaium who appeared in the hearing for the petitioners said that the HC stayed the government orders cancelling the FF status of his clients as the government took the decision without giving them any scope for defending themselves.
They had been included in the gazette notifications of the list of Freedom Fighters after scrutinizing their relevant documents and papers, the lawyer added.
On June 7 this year, the Liberation War Affairs Ministry issued two notifications cancelling Freedom Fighter status of 1134 retired BGB personnel and 47 retired BAF personnel including the 192 writ petitioners on charge of obtaining the status by placing forged documents. The move was reportedly taken following Jatiya Muktijoddha Council’s 66th meeting held on December 10 last year. `
