Lakehead School shutting: Hearing deferred

Staff Correspondent: The High Court (HC) has deferred till tomorrow the hearing in a writ petition issued against the shutting of the functions of three branches of Lakehead Grammar School in the capital.

An HC bench of Justice Syed Muhammad Dastagir Hussain and Justice Md Ataur Rahman Khan passed the order on Sunday.

The court set tomorrow (Monday) for next hearing on the rule.

Senior lawyer AF Hasan Arif, Barrister Akhter Imam and Barrister Rashna Imam stood for the writ while Attorney General Mahbubey Alam represented the state during the hearing in the court.

The High Court on November 9 issued a rule asking the government to explain why suspension of academic activities of three branches of Lakehead Grammar School in the capital would not be illegal.

Barrister Rashna Imam filed the writ petition on behalf of proprietor of the school Khaled Hassan Matin and guardians of 12 students.

Earlier on November 6, the Education Ministry ordered the Dhaka district administration to shut down the Lakehead Grammar School for allegedly patronising militancy and involvement in ‘anti-liberation’ activities.

In a letter signed by the Joint Secretary Salma Jahan, the ministry said the school had not taken approval from the government.

According to the letter, the school was inspiring religious extremism, building extremist organisations, and carrying out activities against the nation and its independence.

It is learnt that Rizwan Harun, one of the patrons of the school, has been missing since he arrived in Dhaka from London in May.

The co-founder and managing director of Lakehead Grammar School is being investigated for financing and patronising militancy in Bangladesh, claim law enforcement officials.

The school, founded in 2006, has several branches in Dhanmondi and Gulshan.

risingbd/Dhaka/Nov 12, 2017/Mehadi/Amirul