Staff Reporter :
The High Court (HC) on Tuesday ordered to reopen the branches of the Lakehead Grammar School- the institution that was shut down on charges of harbouring militancy and extremism- in the city within 24 hours.
The High Court also directed the school authorities to cooperate with the investigators if there is any charge of militancy and extremism against the institution in future.
The HC bench of Justice Syed Muhammad Dastagir Hossain and Justice Md Ataur Rahman Khan delivered the verdict after hearing three writ petitions filed by the school and several guardians.
Khaled Hassan Matin, a proprietor of the school and guardians of 12 students filed three petitions challenging the legality of the government’s decision to seal the Lakehead Grammar School in Dhaka.
After primary hearing, the High Court on November 9 issued rule upon the government as to why they should not be directed to resume the activities of three branches of the sealed Lakehead Grammar School in Dhaka.
The court also wanted to know in its rule as to why the decision of the government about three branches of the school should not be declared illegal.
The district administration of Dhaka on November 7 sealed three branches of Lakehead Grammar School, bringing links to extremism and militancy.
On November 6 in 2017, Education Ministry directed Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka through a notification to stop all education activities of Lakehead Grammar School including branches of Dhanmondi and Gulshan.
The school did not take permission from the government. It was also said in the notification that the school was patronizing religious extremism and militancy.
