'Why should March 7 not be declared as Nat’l Day'

Staff Correspondent: The High Court (HC) issued a rule asking the government to explain in three weeks why directives should not be given to declare March 7 as the Historic National Day.

The court in the rule also asked the government to explain as to why it should not be directed to construct a Bangabandhu speech-mode sculpture and a stage at the place where the March 7 Speech was delivered.

The HC bench comprising Justice Kazi Rezaul Haque and Justice Mohamamd Ullah passed the order on Monday after hearing a writ petition on the issue.

Six secretaries, including that of the Cabinet, Finance, Public Works, Culture and Education, were made respondents to the rule.

Besides, the court asked the cabinet secretary to submit comprehensive report by December 12 on the steps taken following issuance of the rule.

Advocate Dr Basir Ahmed on Sunday filed the petition seeking HC directives to reinstate the stage at the place where Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had delivered the March 7 Speech, laid down by Pakistani Force and gratitude extended to then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by Bangladesh and set up an sculpture of Bangabandhu, a museum and declare the day as the national historic one.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) on October 30 recognised the Bangabandhu's historic March 7 as part of the world's documentary heritage.

risingbd/Dhaka/Nov 20, 2017/Mehadi/AI