Why Liberation War minister should be Freedom Fighters Council chairman, asks HC
The High Court has issued a ruling seeking to know why appointment of the minister of Liberation War Affairs as chairman of the National Freedom Fighters Council should not be annulled.
A High Court (HC) bench of Justice KM Kamrul Kader and Justice Mohammad Shawkat Ali Chowdhury gave the order on 22 May after holding a hearing on a writ petition in this regard, lawyer Barrister Taufiq Inam Tipu, who stood for the writ, informed the media on Tuesday.
The court also asked the government to respond to the rule within four weeks.
The law secretary, the Liberation War affairs secretary and the related parties have been made defendants in the writ.
The court issued the rule after hearing a writ filed by Nobab Ali, who challenged the cancellation of his freedom fighter status.
A lawyer brought to the court's attention the complexity of the verification process of Nobab's certificate.
Later the court said the one who polices the process cannot also be its judge.
The court said if the minister of Liberation War Affairs is also the chairman of the Freedom Fighters Council, evaluation of the freedom fighters will be hampered. As a result, the council's activities have no meaning.
At the same time, the High Court suspended the Freedom Fighters Council's decision to cancel the freedom fighter status of Nobab Ali. He will be paid allowances as per the law, said the high Court.
Assistant Attorney General Salim Azad represented the state during the hearing.
