HC questions legality of committee to scrutinise list of FFs

Staff Correspondent: The High Court (HC) on Monday issued a rule asking why prescribing guidelines to scrutinise the lists of freedom fighters across the country and forming a committee by National Freedom Fighters’ Council in this regard will not be declared illegal.

A High Court bench of Justice Mainul Islam Chowdhury and Justice J B M Hasan issued the rule after hearing a writ petition in this regard.

The Secretary of Liberation War, director of National Freedom Fighters’ Council and other related officials have been asked to reply the rule within the next two weeks.

Lawyer Hasnat Kaium, Mesbah Uddin Ahmed and Sharif Humayun Kabir stood for the petitioners in the court.

Hasnat Kaium said a notice to examine the list of freedom fighters was published on December 12 last year, and later the date was changed on January 5 by another notice.

He also said, the gazette was recognised as final at the time of its publication. The gazette can be annulled only on account of specific complaints. But, according to law, the National Freedom Fighters’ Council does not have the right to examine all the freedom fighters included in the list. The council also does not have the right to form a committee to do that either.

The petition was made by nine freedom fighters who challenged the legality of National Freedom Fighters’ Council’s direction, in response to which HC issued the rule.

risingbd/DHAKA/Jan 23, 2017/Mehedi/Amirul